Apparatus configuration

ABSTRACT

A configurable apparatus is disclosed. A method, computer-readable medium, and system for configuring an apparatus are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/480,963, filed Apr. 29, 2011, entitled “CONFIGURABLEVEHICLE.” That application is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional vehicles are typically offered in several models designedfor different applications. For example, a manufacturer of conventionalsnowboards may offer one model intended for freestyle or park use,another model for backcountry or powder use, and yet another model forall-mountain use. Each of these models has a unique configurationintended for a specific application. Additionally, each of these modelscannot be reconfigured. However, the differences from one model toanother are usually small and subtle. As such, manufacturers canincrease sales and obtain the benefits of product differentiationwithout significantly increasing costs.

Although offering different, application-specific models is advantageousfor the manufacturers of conventional vehicles, it creates severalproblems for consumers. For example, multiple vehicles of differentmodel types must be purchased to accommodate different types of terrainor use, thereby significantly increasing the cost of the purchase.Additionally, the cost of accessories for the multiple vehicles isscaled by the number of vehicles purchased. Further, storage andtransportation becomes more difficult and inconvenient as the number ofvehicles increases. And further yet, the time and effort spenttransitioning from one vehicle to another at the time of use isincreased, thereby reducing the enjoyment and duration of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a need exists to reduce the cost of vehicles with differentconfigurations. A need also exists to allow easier and/or moreconvenient storage and/or transportation of vehicles with differentconfigurations. Additionally, a need exists to reduce the time andeffort spent transitioning from one vehicle to another at the time ofuse. Embodiments of the present invention provide novel solutions tothese needs and others as described below.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus, andalso a method, computer-readable medium, and system for configuring theapparatus. More specifically, an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) may beconfigured to implement at least one configuration of a plurality ofconfigurations. In one embodiment, each configuration of the apparatusmay allow or be intended for use in a respective application, with arespective type of terrain, etc. As such, use of a configurableapparatus can reduce the number of apparatuses or vehicles purchased foruse in multiple applications, with multiple types of terrain, etc.,thereby: saving cost; making storage easier and/or more convenient;making transportation easier and/or more convenient; reducing time andeffort that would otherwise be spent transitioning between conventional,non-configurable vehicles; some combination thereof; etc.

In one embodiment, a vehicle includes at least one layer defining acavity. The vehicle also includes at least one component disposed atleast partially within the cavity, where an adjustment of at least oneattribute associated with the at least one component is operable toimplement a configuration of the at least one layer.

In another embodiment, a method includes accessing at least one userinput associated with a configuration of a vehicle, wherein the vehicleincludes at least one component. The method also includes determining,based on the at least one user input, at least one attribute associatedwith the at least one component. The method further includes adjustingthe at least one attribute to implement the configuration of thevehicle.

In yet another embodiment, a computer-readable medium hascomputer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a system toperform a method. The method includes accessing at least one user inputassociated with a configuration of a vehicle, wherein the vehicleincludes at least one component. The method also includes determining,based on the at least one user input, at least one attribute associatedwith the at least one component. The method further includes adjustingthe at least one attribute to implement the configuration of thevehicle.

And in yet another embodiment, a system includes a processor and amemory, wherein the memory includes instructions for implementing amethod. The method includes accessing at least one user input associatedwith a configuration of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes at leastone component. The method also includes determining, based on the atleast one user input, at least one attribute associated with the atleast one component. The method further includes adjusting the at leastone attribute to implement the configuration of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1A shows an apparatus including at least one component in a firstposition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows an apparatus including at least one component in a secondposition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C shows an apparatus including a plurality of components inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D shows an apparatus including a plurality of components disposedin the same portion of the apparatus in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows an apparatus including at least one component in a firstposition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows an apparatus including at least one component in a secondposition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A shows a first view of a bending of an apparatus including atleast one component in a first position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B shows a second view of a bending of an apparatus including atleast one component in a first position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a first view of a bending of an apparatus including atleast one component in a second position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows a second view of a bending of an apparatus including atleast one component in a second position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A shows a first view of a twisting of apparatus including at leastone component in a first position in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5B shows a second view of a twisting of an apparatus including atleast one component in a first position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows a first view of a twisting of an apparatus including atleast one component in a second position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B shows a second view of a twisting of an apparatus including atleast one component in a second position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows a first view of an apparatus with a first shape inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B shows a second view of an apparatus with the first shape inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A shows a first view of an apparatus with a second shape inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B shows a second view of an apparatus with the second shape inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A shows a first view of a first configuration of an apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B shows a second view of a first configuration of an apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A shows a first view of a second configuration of an apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B shows a second view of a second configuration of an apparatusin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A shows a first view of a third configuration of an apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11B shows a second view of a third configuration of an apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary apparatus including a plurality of componentsin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows an apparatus including at least one component in anintermediate position in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 shows an apparatus for positioning at least one component inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an apparatus for positioning at least one component usingat least one gear in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 shows an apparatus allowing a pressure inside of at least onecomponent to be set or varied in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 shows an apparatus allowing one or more properties of amagnetorheological fluid of at least one component to be set or variedin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18A shows a first state of an apparatus allowing one or moreproperties of a magnetic field to be set or varied in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18B shows a second state of an apparatus allowing one or moreproperties of a magnetic field to be set or varied in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows an apparatus including at least one element for reducingdelamination of layers of the apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows an apparatus including at least one element allowing thecoupling of another object with the apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows an apparatus defining at least one channel allowing thecoupling of another object with the apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows an apparatus allowing communication of signals between anapparatus and at least one other object in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 shows a system including at least one configuration component inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 shows a user interface in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 26 shows a user interface for configuring an apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 shows a flowchart of a process in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 28 shows a data structure in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 29 shows a data structure in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the present invention will be discussed in conjunctionwith the following embodiments, it will be understood that they are notintended to limit the present invention to these embodiments alone. Onthe contrary, the present invention is intended to cover alternatives,modifications, and equivalents which may be included with the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the presentinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the present invention. However, embodiments ofthe present invention may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, andcircuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarilyobscure aspects of the present invention.

Notation and Nomenclature

Some regions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented interms of procedures, logic blocks, processing and other symbolicrepresentations of operations on data bits within a computer memory.These descriptions and representations are the means used by thoseskilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of theirwork to others skilled in the art. In the present application, aprocedure, logic block, process, or the like, is conceived to be aself-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desiredresult. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physicalquantities. Usually, although not necessarily, these quantities take theform of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computersystem.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention,discussions utilizing the terms such as “aborting,” “accepting,”“accessing,” “activating,” “adding,” “adjusting,” “allocating,”“allowing,” “analyzing,” “applying,” “assembling,” “assigning,”“authenticating,” “authorizing,” “balancing,” “blocking,” “calculating,”“capturing,” “causing,” “changing,” “charging,” “combining,”“comparing,” “collecting,” “communicating,” “configuring,”“controlling,” “converting,” “creating,” “deactivating,” “debugging,”“decreasing,” “defining,” “delivering,” “depicting,” “detecting,”“determining,” “discharging,” “displaying,” “downloading,” “enabling,”“establishing,” “executing,” “forwarding,” “flipping,” “generating,”“grouping,” “hiding,” “identifying,” “increasing,” “initiating,”“instantiating,” “interacting,” “measuring,” “modifying,” “monitoring,”“moving,” “outputting,” “parsing,” “performing,” “placing,”“presenting,” “processing,” “programming,” “providing,” “provisioning,”“querying,” “receiving,” “regulating,” “removing,” “rendering,”“repeating,” “resuming,” “retaining,” “sampling,” “simulating,”“selecting,” “sending,” “sorting,” “storing,” “subtracting,”“suspending,” “tracking,” “transcoding,” “transforming,” “transmitting,”“unblocking,” “using,” “verifying,” or the like, may refer to the actionand/or processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computingdevice, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical(electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers andmemories into other data similarly represented as physical quantitieswithin the computer system memories or registers or other suchinformation storage, transmission and/or display devices.

As used herein, the term “coupled with” may refer to an arrangement ofobjects (or components) where at least two objects (or at least twocomponents) are in physical contact with one another (e.g., touching) orwhere at least two objects (or at least two components) are separated byat least one other object or component (e.g., two objects or componentsthat are coupled with one another may have at least one other object orcomponent positioned between the two objects or components).

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, anapparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including orimplemented by the apparatus) may include at least one componentallowing at least one property of the apparatus (or at least one portionthereof) to be determined, configured, altered, etc. The term “vehicle”as used herein may refer to at least one snowboard, at least one ski, atleast one skateboard, at least one water ski, at least one wakeboard, atleast one surf board, at least one apparatus capable of being ridden byat least one person, at least one apparatus capable of carrying orsupporting the weight of at least one person (e.g., who each weigh lessthan approximately 400 pounds), at least one apparatus other than ashoe, some combination thereof, etc. The at least one property mayinclude resistance to bending (e.g., bending stiffness, bendingrigidity, etc.), resistance to torsion (e.g., torsional stiffness,torsional rigidity, etc.), at least one vibration characteristic (e.g.,vibration damping, at least one damping coefficient, at least one dampednatural frequency, at least one undamped natural frequency, vibrationfrequency response, etc.), shape of one or more portions of theapparatus (or portion thereof), some combination thereof, etc. In oneembodiment, the at least one component may allow at least one propertyof the apparatus (or a portion thereof) to be determined, configured,altered, etc. without affecting or significantly affecting thecompression of the apparatus (or a portion thereof).

The at least one component may be configured or reconfigured duringmanufacturing, before use, during use, after use, some combinationthereof, etc. The at least one component may be configured manuallyand/or automatically.

At least one property of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) maydetermined, configured, altered, etc. based on: a position (e.g.,associated with or defined by a location, plane, axis, orientation,arrangement, pattern, etc.) of at least one component (e.g., 210 ofFIGS. 2A through 6B, 710 a of FIGS. 7A through 8B, 710 b of FIGS. 7Athrough 8B, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 ofFIG. 17, etc.) of an apparatus (e.g., as described with respect to FIG.2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG.6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG.10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15,some combination thereof, etc.); a pressure of or inside the at leastone component (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 16); a state of ashape metal alloy (SMA) of at least one component; at least one propertyof a magnetorheological fluid of at least one component (e.g., asdescribed with respect to FIG. 17, FIG. 18A, FIG. 18B, etc.); somecombination thereof; etc. The at least one component may include anynumber of components or sub-components.

FIG. 1A shows apparatus 100 a including at least one component 110 a ina first position in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, whereas FIG. 1B shows apparatus 100 b including at least onecomponent 110 b in a second position in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 100 a may be, orbe used to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle.And in one embodiment, apparatus 100 b may be, or be used to implement,a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle.

In one embodiment, different positions of components may allow differentapparatus configurations and/or different alterations of at least oneproperty of the apparatus. For example, at least one component 110 a maybe used to alter resistance to torsion of apparatus 100 a about axis 120a, while at least one component 110 b may be used to alter resistance totorsion of apparatus 100 b about axis 130 b. As another example, atleast one component 110 a may be used to alter resistance to bending ofapparatus 100 a around or about axis 120 a, while at least one component110 b may be used to alter resistance to bending of apparatus 100 baround or about axis 130 b. As yet another example, at least onecomponent 110 a may be used to alter shape and/or at least one vibrationcharacteristic of apparatus 100 a in a first manner, while at least onecomponent 110 b may be used to alter shape and/or at least one vibrationcharacteristic of apparatus 100 b in a second manner.

FIG. 1C shows apparatus 100 c including a plurality of components inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, apparatus 100 c may be, or be used to implement, a vehicleor at least one portion of a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1C, apparatus 100 c may include at least one component110 c, at least one component 112 c, and at least one component 114 c.In one embodiment, each of the components or groups of components may bepositioned differently (e.g., at least one component 110 c may bepositioned differently than at least one component 112 c, at least onecomponent 112 c may be positioned differently than at least onecomponent 114 c, at least one component 110 c may be positioneddifferently than at least one component 114 c, etc.). In this manner,each component or group of components may be advantageously used todifferently configure the apparatus and/or differently alter at leastone property of the apparatus. Furthermore, where each component orgroup of components is located in a different portion of the apparatus,each component or group of components may be advantageously used todifferently configure a respective portion of the apparatus (e.g.,contemporaneously, sequentially, etc.) and/or differently alter at leastone respective property of a respective portion of the apparatus (e.g.,contemporaneously, sequentially, etc.).

FIG. 1D shows apparatus 100 d including a plurality of componentsdisposed in the same portion of apparatus 100 d in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 100 dmay be, or be used to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of avehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1D, at least one component (e.g., 110 d, 112 d, etc.)may overlap, be integrated with, or otherwise be disposed in the sameportion of apparatus 100 d as at least one other component (e.g., 114 d,116 d, etc.). Accordingly, a plurality of components disposed in sameportion of apparatus 100 d may be advantageously used to alter aplurality of different properties of the portion of the apparatus. Theproperties may be altered contemporaneously, sequentially, etc.

For example, at least one component (e.g., 114 d, 116 d, etc.) may beused to alter resistance to torsion of apparatus 100 d about axis 120 d,while at least one component (e.g., 110 d, 112 d, etc.) may be used toalter resistance to torsion of apparatus 100 d about axis 130 d. Asanother example, at least one component (e.g., 114 d, 116 d, etc.) maybe used to alter resistance to bending of apparatus 100 d around orabout axis 120 d, while at least one component (e.g., 110 d, 112 d,etc.) may be used to alter resistance to bending of apparatus 100 daround or about axis 130 d. As yet another example, at least onecomponent (e.g., 110 d, 112 d, etc.) may be used to alter shape and/orat least one vibration characteristic of apparatus 100 d in a firstmanner, while at least one other component (e.g., 114 d, 116 d, etc.)may be used to alter shape and/or at least one vibration characteristicof apparatus 100 d in a second manner.

In one embodiment, a plurality of components of an apparatus may beutilized to configure the same property or properties. For example, twoor more components may be utilized to configure bending stiffness,torsional stiffness, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, someother property, etc. In one embodiment, at least two components may beutilized to configure different properties. For example, at least onecomponent may be utilized to configure torsional stiffness of anapparatus, whereas at least one other component may be utilized toconfigure bending stiffness and/or at least one vibration characteristicof the apparatus.

It should be appreciated that each component may be utilized toconfigure any number of properties. For example, a first component maybe utilized to configure only one property of at least a portion of anapparatus. As another example, a second component may be utilized toconfigure a plurality of properties of at least a portion of anapparatus.

Although the previous Figures (e.g., 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D) showapparatuses with a specific number and position of components, it shouldbe appreciated that a different number and/or position of components maybe used in other embodiments. Additionally, although the previousFigures (e.g., 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D) show apparatuses with a specific sizeand shape of components, it should be appreciated that a different sizeand/or shape of components may be used in other embodiments.

FIG. 2A shows apparatus 200 including at least one component 210 in afirst position in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, whereas FIG. 2B shows apparatus 200 including at least onecomponent 210 in a second position in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 200 may be, or beused to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle. Andin one embodiment, at least one component 210 may be used to implementone or more of the previously-described components (e.g., 110 a, 110 b,110 c, 112 c, 114 c, 110 d, 112 d, 114 d, 116 d, some combinationthereof, etc.).

Each of the positions (e.g., the first position depicted in FIG. 2A, thesecond position depicted in FIG. 2B, another position, etc.) may beassociated with or defined by a different location, plane, axis,orientation, arrangement, pattern, some combination thereof, etc. Atleast one component 210 may be disposed at least partially within atleast one layer 220 of apparatus 200. In one embodiment, a property ofapparatus 200 (or at least one portion thereof) may be determined,configured, altered, etc. by setting at least one component 210 at oneor more positions. At least one component 210 may be moved betweenpositions by mechanically articulating or actuating at least onecomponent 210 in one embodiment. For example, moving at least onecomponent 210 between positions (e.g., from a first position depicted inFIG. 2A to a second position depicted in FIG. 2B, from the secondposition to the first position, between the first position and at leastone other position, between the second position and at least one otherposition, etc.) may vary one or more properties of apparatus 200 (or avehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented byapparatus 200) or a portion of apparatus 200.

At least one layer 220 may include at least one layer 222, at least onelayer 224, at least one layer 226, at least one other layer, somecombination thereof, etc. At least one layer 222 may be or include atleast one top layer in one embodiment. At least one layer 224 may be orinclude at least one inner layer or and/or a core of the apparatus inone embodiment. At least one layer 226 may be or include at least onebottom layer and/or a base of the apparatus in one embodiment.

In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222, 224, 226, some combinationthereof, etc.) of apparatus 200 may slide or move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 200). In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222,224, 226, some combination thereof, etc.) of apparatus 200 may be fixedor not move with respect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement,bending, twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 200).

In one embodiment, at least one layer 222 may include at least onegraphic and/or at least one design. In one embodiment, the at least onegraphic and/or at least one design may include at least one image, andtherefore, at least one layer 222 may be or include at least oneimage-bearing layer. At least one layer 222 may be made of plastic orsome other material (e.g., metal, wood, carbon fiber, a compositematerial, etc.). In one embodiment, at least one layer 222 may beconfigured to interface with at least one binding (e.g., for accepting aboot, foot, etc.), at least one boot, at least one shoe, at least onefoot, etc. And in one embodiment, at least one layer 222 may: include afirst surface (e.g., a top surface, another surface, etc.) defining atleast one feature for increasing friction between the first surface andanother object (e.g., a binding, a boot, a shoe, a user's foot, etc.);be configured to interface with grip tape or some other material forroughening or patterning of the first surface; etc.

In one embodiment, at least one layer 226 may include at least onegraphic and/or at least one design. In one embodiment, the at least onegraphic and/or at least one design may include an image, and therefore,at least one layer 226 may be or include at least one image-bearinglayer. At least one layer 226 may be made of plastic or some othermaterial (e.g., metal, wood, carbon fiber, a composite material, etc.).At least one layer 226 may include a second surface (e.g., a bottomsurface, another surface, etc.) configured to glide or move across afluid (e.g., water, another liquid or fluid, etc.) or another surface(e.g., snow, the ground, dirt, rocks, pavement, asphalt, etc.) in oneembodiment. At least one layer 226 may be configured to interface withan apparatus (e.g., a truck of a skateboard, a fin, an apparatusincluding at least one wheel, etc.) in one embodiment.

In one embodiment, at least one layer 226 may include or be configuredto interface with a metal edge and/or rail. And in one embodiment, themetal edge and/or rail may be coupled with at least one layer 226 and/orat least one other portion of apparatus 200.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, at least one component 210 may be disposedat least partially within opening or channel 230. Opening or channel 230may be defined by at least one layer 224 and/or at least one other layer(e.g., of at least one layer 220). In one embodiment, at least onecomponent 210 may be at least partially surrounded or enclosed byelement 240. Element 240 may be capable of holding at least onecomponent 210 in place, reducing contact or limiting movement between atleast one component 210 and at least one layer 220 (e.g., a surface orportion of at least one layer 220 defining opening or channel 230),allowing rotation or movement of at least one component 210 with respectto at least one layer 220 (e.g., from a first position depicted in FIG.2A to a second position depicted in FIG. 2B, from the second position tothe first position, between the first position and at least one otherposition, between the second position and at least one other position,etc.), reducing vibration and/or rattling of at least one component 210,distributing or conveying loads to at least one component 210,distributing or conveying vibration to at least one component 210, somecombination thereof, etc.

FIG. 3A shows a first view of a bending of apparatus 200 including atleast one component 210 in a first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG.2A) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereasFIG. 3B shows a second view of a bending of apparatus 200 including atleast one component 210 in a first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG.2A) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4Ashows a first view of a bending of apparatus 200 including at least onecomponent 210 in a second position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2B) inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG. 4Bshows a second view of a bending of apparatus 200 including at least onecomponent 210 in a second position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2B) inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, apparatus 200 may be more easily bent, for example,when at least one component 210 is in the first position (e.g., as shownin FIGS. 3A and 3B) than the second position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 4Aand 4B). Accordingly, where the same bending load is applied to theapparatus (e.g., 200) when at least one component 210 is in the firstposition and the second position, the apparatus (e.g., 200) may undergomore strain or movement (e.g., responsive to the bending load) when atleast one component 220 is in the first position (e.g., as depicted inFIGS. 3A and 3B) as opposed to the second position (e.g., as depicted inFIGS. 4A and 4B).

In one embodiment, the bending of apparatus 200 and/or at least onecomponent 210 may be caused by one or more external forces or momentsacting on apparatus 200 and/or at least one component 210. For example,the bending (e.g., depicted in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, etc.) may be causedby forces acting downward (e.g., represented by arrows 310 and 320 asshown in FIGS. 3A and 4A) and at least one force acting upward (e.g.,represented by arrow 330 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A). As anotherexample, the bending (e.g., depicted in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, etc.) maybe caused by at least one moment in a first direction (e.g., representedby arrow 350 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A) and/or at least one moment ina second direction (e.g., represented by arrow 360 as shown in FIGS. 3Aand 4A). In one embodiment, the bending may be caused by one or moreexternal forces or moments acting on the apparatus (e.g., 200) and/or atleast one component in conjunction with one or more internal forces ormoments (e.g., caused by the at least one component itself as discussedbelow with respect to FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B,12, etc.).

FIG. 5A shows a first view of a twisting of apparatus 200 including atleast one component 210 in a first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG.2A) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereasFIG. 5B shows a second view of a twisting of apparatus 200 including atleast one component 210 in a first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG.2A) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6Ashows a first view of a twisting of apparatus 200 including at least onecomponent 210 in a second position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2B) inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG. 6Bshows a second view of a twisting of apparatus 200 including at leastone component 210 in a second position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2B) inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the apparatus (e.g., 200) may be more easily twisted,for example, when at least one component 210 is in the first position(e.g., as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B) than the second position (e.g., asshown in FIGS. 6A and 6B). Accordingly, where the same torsional load isapplied to the apparatus (e.g., 200) when at least one component 210 isin the first position and the second position, the apparatus (e.g., 200)may undergo more strain or movement (e.g., responsive to the torsionalload) when at least one component 220 is in the first position (e.g., asdepicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B) as opposed to the second position (e.g., asdepicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B).

In one embodiment, the twisting of apparatus 200 and/or at least onecomponent 210 may be caused by one or more external forces or momentsacting on apparatus 200 and/or at least one component 210. For example,the twisting (e.g., depicted in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, etc.) may becaused by at least one force acting downward (e.g., represented byarrows 510 and 520 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A) and at least one forceacting upward (e.g., represented by arrows 530 and 540 as shown in FIGS.5A and 6A). As another example, the twisting (e.g., depicted in FIGS.5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, etc.) may be caused by at least one moment in a firstdirection (e.g., represented by arrow 550 as shown FIGS. 5A and 6A)and/or at least one moment in a second direction (e.g., represented byarrow 560 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A). In one embodiment, the twistingmay be caused by one or more external forces or moments acting on theapparatus (e.g., 200) and/or at least one component in conjunction withone or more internal forces or moments (e.g., caused by the at least onecomponent itself as discussed below with respect to FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A,8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 12, etc.).

In one embodiment, different positions (e.g., associated with or definedby different locations, planes, axes, orientations, arrangements,patterns, some combination thereof, etc.) of at least one component(e.g., 210) may provide different vibration characteristics (e.g.,vibration damping, at least one damping coefficient, at least one dampednatural frequency, at least one undamped natural frequency, vibrationfrequency response, etc.) for apparatus (e.g., 200). For example,vibration damping may be different when in the second position (e.g., asdepicted in FIG. 2B, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B, etc.) than the first position(e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2A, 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B, etc.). As anotherexample, the first position may provide the apparatus (e.g., 200) with afirst vibration characteristic (e.g., a first damping coefficient, afirst damped natural frequency, a first undamped natural frequency, afirst vibration frequency response, etc.), whereas the second positionmay provide the apparatus (e.g., 200) with a second vibrationcharacteristic (e.g., a second damping coefficient, a second dampednatural frequency, a second undamped natural frequency, a secondvibration frequency response, etc.). In this manner, at least onevibration characteristic of apparatus 200 (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by apparatus 200) may beconfigured, determined, altered, etc. based on the position of at leastone component.

In one embodiment, different positions (e.g., associated with or definedby different locations, planes, axes, orientations, arrangements,patterns, some combination thereof, etc.) of at least one component mayresult in different shapes of an apparatus (e.g., 200). For example, anapparatus (e.g., 200) may be bent or shaped into an arc (or anothershape) responsive to configuring or setting at least one component(e.g., 710 a of FIGS. 7A through 8B, 710 b of FIGS. 7A through 8B, etc.)in a first position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B), whereas theapparatus (e.g., 200) may be flattened responsive to configuring orsetting the at least one component (e.g., 710 a, 710 b, etc.) in asecond position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B). In this manner, theshape of apparatus 200 (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion,including or implemented by apparatus 200) may be configured,determined, altered, etc. based on the position of at least onecomponent.

FIG. 7A shows a first view of apparatus 700 with a first shape inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG. 7Bshows a second view of apparatus 700 with the first shape in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A shows a first viewof apparatus 700 with a second shape in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention, whereas FIG. 8B shows a second view ofapparatus 700 with the second shape in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 700 may be, or beused to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B, component 710 a and/or component710 b may be implemented using and/or operate similarly to component210. For example, component 710 a may be disposed within opening orchannel 730 a defined at least partially within at least one layer 220.At least one component 710 a may be at least partially surrounded orenclosed by element 740 a in one embodiment, where element 740 a may beimplemented using and/or operate similarly to element 240 in oneembodiment. As another example, component 710 b may be disposed withinopening or channel 730 b defined at least partially within at least onelayer 220. At least one component 710 b may be at least partiallysurrounded or enclosed by element 740 b in one embodiment, where element740 b may be implemented using and/or operate similarly to element 240in one embodiment.

In one embodiment, the at least one component (e.g., 710 a, 710 b, etc.)may have the shape of an arc (e.g., similar to the shape shown in FIGS.7A and 7B, with a different radius or diameter, etc.), or bealternatively shaped, in its natural or relaxed state (e.g., as a resultof manufacturing or forming the at least one component in an arc orother shape). As such, the apparatus (e.g., 700) may be bent or shapedinto an arc responsive to configuring or positioning at least onecomponent in the first position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B). Inthis manner, the shape of the apparatus (e.g., 700) may be changed ordetermined by internal forces or moments (e.g., acting on one or morelayers of the apparatus, acting on other components of the apparatus,etc.) caused by the at least one component itself. In one embodiment,the shape of the apparatus (e.g., 700) may also be caused or influencedby one or more external forces or moments acting on the apparatus and/orat least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/orFIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.), and therefore, theshape of the apparatus (e.g., 700) may be caused by one or more externalforces or moments (e.g., caused by the weight of the rider of theapparatus, caused by a fluid or matter in contact with the apparatus,caused by another surface or object, etc.) acting on the apparatus(e.g., 700) and/or at least one component (e.g., 710 a, 710 b, etc.) inconjunction with one or more internal forces or moments (e.g., caused bythe at least one component itself).

In one embodiment, placing the at least one component (e.g., 710 a, 710b, etc.) in the second position (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B) maycause the respective internal forces or moments of each component tocancel or counteract one another. The internal forces or moments may becaused by the internal stresses of the at least component whenstraightened as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. As such, the bending of the atleast one component may be reduced (e.g., responsive to placing the atleast one component in the second position as depicted in FIGS. 8A and8B), thereby reducing the bending or alternative change in shape of theapparatus (e.g., 700) including the at least one component. In oneembodiment, placing the at least one component in the second position(e.g., as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B) may cause the apparatus (e.g., 700)to assume a flat or substantially flat shape.

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 700 may slide or move withrespect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending,twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 700). In one embodiment,layers of apparatus 700 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 700).

In one embodiment, a plurality of components (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b,1410 of FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.)of an apparatus (e.g., 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400,1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) may beconfigured contemporaneously (e.g., using the same mechanism, the samemagnet or set of magnets, etc.). In this manner, at least one property(e.g., e.g., bending stiffness or rigidity, torsional stiffness orrigidity, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.) of anapparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including orimplemented by the apparatus) may be set or changed more efficiently(e.g., since a plurality of components can be configuredcontemporaneously and each component need not be individuallyconfigured) and the overall cost of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or atleast one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus)can be reduced (e.g., by reducing the number of mechanisms or componentsused to configure the plurality of components).

Alternatively, one or more components (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 ofFIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) may beconfigured, controlled, adjusted, etc. independently or individually(e.g., using at least one respective mechanism or component to configureeach component or set of components). In this manner, theconfigurability of the apparatus (or at least one portion thereof) maybe increased by allowing, for example, one portion of the apparatus tobe configured independently of another portion of the apparatus. And inone embodiment, a plurality of components may be configuredcontemporaneously (e.g., using the same mechanism or component) while atleast one other component may be configured independently (e.g., usinganother mechanism or component) from the plurality of components.

FIG. 9A shows a first view of a first configuration of apparatus 900 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG. 9Bshows a second view of a first configuration of apparatus 900 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, apparatus 900 may be, or be used to implement, a vehicle orat least one portion of a vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, apparatus 900 includes portion 910, portion920, portion 930, portion 940, portion 950, portion 960, and portion970. In one embodiment, at least one portion of apparatus 900 (e.g.,portion 920, portion 940, portion 960, etc.) may include at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) allowing at least one property (e.g.,resistance to bending, resistance to torsion, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, shape, some combination thereof, etc.) of the at leastone portion to be determined, configured, altered, etc. And in oneembodiment, at least one portion of apparatus 900 (e.g., portion 920,portion 940, portion 960, etc.) may include or be implemented using atleast one apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 1200 ofFIG. 12, 1400 of FIG. 14, 1500 of FIG. 15, 1600 of FIG. 16, 1700 of FIG.17, 1800 of FIG. 18, 1900 of FIG. 19, 2000 of FIG. 20, 2100 of FIG. 21,2200 of FIG. 22, 2300 of FIG. 23, etc.).

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, at least one respective component ofportions 920 and 960 of apparatus 900 may provide portions 920 and 960with a concave-up shape or a “rocker” configuration. In one embodiment,the concave-up shape or “rocker” configuration may be provided orimplemented by placing the at least one respective component of portions920 and 960 in a first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2A, 3A, 3B,5A, 5B, 7A, 7B, etc.).

At least one component of portion 940 of apparatus 900 may provideportion 940 with a flat or substantially flat shape. In one embodiment,the flat or substantially flat shape may be provided or implemented byplacing the at least one component of portion 940 in a second position(e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2B, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B, etc.).

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 900 may slide or move withrespect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending,twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 900). In one embodiment,layers of apparatus 900 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 900).

FIG. 10A shows a first view of a second configuration of apparatus 900in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG.10B shows a second view of a second configuration of apparatus 900 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B, at least one respective component of portions 920 and960 of apparatus 900 may provide portions 920 and 960 with a concave-upshape or a “rocker” configuration. In one embodiment, the concave-upshape or “rocker” configuration may be provided or implemented byplacing the at least one respective component of portions 920 and 960 ina first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2A, 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B, 7A, 7B,etc.).

At least one component of portion 940 of apparatus 900 may provideportion 940 with a concave-down shape or a “camber” configuration. Inone embodiment, the concave-down shape or “camber” configuration may beprovided or implemented by placing the at least one component of portion940 in a third position (e.g., similar to the first position as depictedin FIG. 2B, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B, etc., but rotated approximately 180degrees).

FIG. 11A shows a first view of a third configuration of apparatus 900 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, whereas FIG.11B shows a second view of a third configuration of apparatus 900 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B, at least one respective component of portions 920 and960 of apparatus 900 may provide portions 920 and 960 with aconcave-down shape or a “camber” configuration. In one embodiment, theconcave-down shape or “camber” configuration may be provided orimplemented by placing the at least one respective component of portions920 and 960 in a third position (e.g., similar to the first position asdepicted in FIG. 2B, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B, etc., but rotatedapproximately 180 degrees).

At least one component of portion 940 of apparatus 900 may provideportion 940 with a concave-up shape or a “rocker” configuration. In oneembodiment, the concave-up shape or “rocker” configuration may beprovided or implemented by placing the at least one component of portion940 in a first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2A, 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B,7A, 7B, etc.).

In one embodiment, FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A and/or 11C may depict across-section of apparatus 900 taken using a plane extending along thelength of apparatus 900. In one embodiment, FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11Aand/or 11C may depict a cross-section of apparatus 900 taken using aplane extending along the width of apparatus 900. And in one embodiment,FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A and/or 11C may depict a cross-section ofapparatus 900 taken using a plane that alternatively intersectsapparatus 900.

In one embodiment, at least two portions of apparatus 900 may bediscrete. For example, at least two portions (e.g., 910, 920, 930, 940,950, 960, 970, some combination thereof, etc.) may be manufacturedseparately and then joined to form apparatus 900.

Alternatively, at least two portions of apparatus 900 may be integrated.For example, at least one layer of apparatus 900 may include the atleast two portions, where the at least two portions can be distinguishedfrom one another by one or more features (e.g., each portion includes adifferent component or set of components, one portion is configured toaccept a binding or boot whereas another portion is not, the respectiveproperties of each portion can be individually or independentlyconfigured, etc.). As another example, portions of apparatus 900 thatwere manufactured separately may be integrated during manufacture orassembly of apparatus 900 (e.g., by applying at least one layer or otherobject over two or more portions so that they appear or function as oneportion, etc.). As yet another example, portions of apparatus 900 thatwere manufactured separately may be integrated during manufacture orassembly of the apparatus by coupling at least one other object (e.g., ametal edge or rail, at least one other layer, a graphic or design, etc.)to the portions. In one embodiment, a metal edge or rail may be appliedor coupled with a plurality of portions (e.g., 910, 920, 930, 940, 950,960, 970, some combination thereof, etc.) of the apparatus 900, wherethe metal edge or rail may extend continuously along the plurality ofportions.

In one embodiment, at least one layer of apparatus 900 (e.g., of one ormore portions of apparatus 900 that include at least one component,coupled with or overlapping one or more portions of apparatus 900 thatinclude at least one component, etc.) may include at least one graphicand/or at least one design. In one embodiment, the at least one graphicand/or at least one design may include at least one image, andtherefore, the at least one layer of apparatus 900 may be or include atleast one image-bearing layer. The at least one layer of apparatus 900may be made of plastic or some other material (e.g., metal, wood, carbonfiber, a composite material, etc.).

In one embodiment, at least one layer of apparatus 900 (e.g., of one ormore portions of apparatus 900 that include at least one component,coupled with or overlapping one or more portions of apparatus 900 thatinclude at least one component, etc.) may be configured to interfacewith at least one binding (e.g., for accepting a boot, foot, etc.), atleast one boot, at least one shoe, at least one foot, etc. In oneembodiment, the at least one layer of apparatus 900 may: include a firstsurface (e.g., a top surface, another surface, etc.) defining at leastone feature for increasing friction between the first surface andanother object (e.g., a binding, a boot, a shoe, a user's foot, etc.);be configured to interface with grip tape or some other material forroughening or patterning of the first surface; etc.

In one embodiment, at least one layer of apparatus 900 (e.g., of one ormore portions of apparatus 900 that include at least one component,coupled with or overlapping one or more portions of apparatus 900 thatinclude at least one component, etc.) may include a second surface(e.g., a bottom surface, another surface, etc.) configured to glide ormove across a fluid (e.g., water, another liquid or fluid, etc.) oranother surface (e.g., snow, the ground, dirt, rocks, pavement, asphalt,etc.). The at least one layer of apparatus 900 may be configured tointerface with an apparatus (e.g., a truck of a skateboard, a fin, anapparatus including at least one wheel, etc.) in one embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows exemplary apparatus 1200 including a plurality ofcomponents in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.In one embodiment, apparatus 1200 may be, or be used to implement, avehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 12, apparatus 1200 may include portions 1210, portion1220, portion 1230, portion 1240, and portion 1250. In one embodiment,at least one portion of apparatus 1200 (e.g., portion 1220, portion1230, portion 1240, etc.) may include at least one component (e.g., 210,710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 ofFIG. 17, etc.) allowing at least one property (e.g., resistance tobending, resistance to torsion, at least one vibration characteristic,shape, some combination thereof, etc.) of the at least one portion to bedetermined, configured, altered, etc. And in one embodiment, at leastone portion of apparatus 1200 (e.g., portion 1220, portion 1230, portion1240, etc.) may include or be implemented using at least one apparatus(e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1400 of FIG. 14, 1500of FIG. 15, 1600 of FIG. 16, 1700 of FIG. 17, 1800 of FIG. 18, 1900 ofFIG. 19, 2000 of FIG. 20, 2100 of FIG. 21, 2200 of FIG. 22, 2300 of FIG.23, etc.).

At least one respective component of portions 1220 and 1240 may provideportions 1220 and 1240 with a concave-up shape and/or raise the edges ofportions 1220 and 1240. In one embodiment, the concave-up shape and/orthe raised edges may be provided or implemented by setting the at leastone respective component of portions 1220 and 1240 in a first position(e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2A, 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B, 7A, 7B, etc.).

At least one component of portion 1230 of apparatus 1200 may provideportion 1230 with a flat shape (or substantially flat shape) and/oroffset the edges of portion 1230 from the edges of at least one otherportion of apparatus 1200 (e.g., portion 1220, portion 1240, etc.). Inone embodiment, the flat or substantially flat shape and/or the offsetedges may be provided or implemented by setting the at least onecomponent of portion 1230 in a second position (e.g., as depicted inFIG. 2B, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B, etc.).

Although FIG. 12 shows the apparatus with a particular shape created bya particular configuration of components, it should be appreciated thatthe components may be alternatively configured to change the shape ofthe apparatus. For example, the components of portions 1220 and/or 1240may be set in the second position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2B, 4A, 4B,6A, 6B, 8A, 8B, etc.) to provide portions 1220 and/or 1240 with a flatshape (or substantially flat shape) and/or lower the edges of portions1220 and/or 1240. As another example, at least one component of portion1230 may be set in the first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2A, 3A,3B, 5A, 5B, 7A, 7B, etc.) to provide portion 1230 with a concave-upshape and/or raise the edges of portion 1230. As yet another example,one or more of the components (e.g., of portion 1220, of portion 1230,of portion 1240, some combination thereof, etc.) may be placed in athird position (e.g., similar to the first position as depicted in FIG.2B, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B, etc., but rotated approximately 180 degrees)to provide one or more portions of apparatus 1200 with a concave-downshape and/or further lower the edges of apparatus 1200 in oneembodiment.

In one embodiment, at least two portions of apparatus 1200 may bediscrete. For example, at least two portions (e.g., 1210, 1220, 1230,1240, 1250, some combination thereof, etc.) may be manufacturedseparately and then joined to form apparatus 1200 (or a portionthereof).

Alternatively, at least two portions of apparatus 1200 may beintegrated. For example, at least one layer of apparatus 1200 mayinclude the at least two portions, where the at least two portions canbe distinguished from one another by one or more features (e.g., eachportion includes a different component or set of components, one portionis configured to accept a binding or boot whereas another portion isnot, the respective properties of each portion can be individually orindependently configured, etc.). As another example, portions ofapparatus 1200 that were manufactured separately may be integratedduring manufacture or assembly of apparatus 1200 (e.g., by applying atleast one layer or other object over two or more portions so that theyappear or function as one portion, etc.). As yet another example,portions of apparatus 1200 that were manufactured separately may beintegrated during manufacture or assembly of the apparatus by couplingat least one other object (e.g., a metal edge or rail, another layer, agraphic or design, etc.) to the portions. In one embodiment, a metaledge or rail may be applied or coupled with a plurality of portions(e.g., 1210, 1220, 1230, 1240, 1250, some combination thereof, etc.) ofthe apparatus 1200, where the metal edge or rail may extend continuouslyalong the plurality of portions.

In one embodiment, at least one layer of apparatus 1200 (e.g., of one ormore portions of apparatus 1200 that include at least one component,coupled with or overlapping one or more portions of apparatus 1200 thatinclude at least one component, etc.) may include at least one graphicand/or at least one design. In one embodiment, the at least one graphicand/or at least one design may include at least one image, andtherefore, the at least one layer of apparatus 1200 may be or include atleast one image-bearing layer. The at least one layer of apparatus 1200may be made of plastic or some other material (e.g., metal, wood, carbonfiber, a composite material, etc.).

In one embodiment, at least one layer of apparatus 1200 (e.g., of one ormore portions of apparatus 1200 that include at least one component,coupled with or overlapping one or more portions of apparatus 1200 thatinclude at least one component, etc.) may be configured to interfacewith at least one binding (e.g., for accepting a boot, foot, etc.), atleast one boot, at least one shoe, at least one foot, etc. In oneembodiment, the at least one layer of apparatus 1200 may: include afirst surface (e.g., a top surface, another surface, etc.) defining atleast one feature for increasing friction between the first surface andanother object (e.g., a binding, a boot, a shoe, a user's foot, etc.);be configured to interface with grip tape or some other material forroughening or patterning of the first surface; etc.

In one embodiment, at least one layer of apparatus 1200 (e.g., of one ormore portions of apparatus 1200 that include at least one component,coupled with or overlapping one or more portions of apparatus 1200 thatinclude at least one component, etc.) may include a second surface(e.g., a bottom surface, another surface, etc.) configured to glide ormove across a fluid (e.g., water, another liquid or fluid, etc.) oranother surface (e.g., snow, the ground, dirt, rocks, pavement, asphalt,etc.). The at least one layer of apparatus 1200 may be configured tointerface with an apparatus (e.g., a truck of a skateboard, a fin, anapparatus including at least one wheel, etc.) in one embodiment.

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 1200 may slide or move withrespect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending,twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 1200). In one embodiment,layers of apparatus 1200 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 1200).

Although one or more of the preceding Figures depict components,structures, etc. of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200,700, 900, 1200, etc.) with certain shapes and sizes, it should beappreciated that the components, structures, etc. are exemplary and thecomponents, structures, etc. may be of any shape and/or size in otherembodiments. For example, at least one component may have a differentcross-sectional shape such as an I-beam, a C-channel, a T-beam, a tube,another shape, etc. Additionally, although one or more components havebeen described with respect to a specific number of positions (e.g.,two, three, etc.) allowing configuration, determination, alteration,etc. of at least one property of an apparatus (or at least one portionthereof), it should be appreciated that any number of positions may beutilized to allow configuration, determination, alteration, etc. of anynumber of properties.

FIG. 13 shows apparatus 200 including at least one component 210 in anintermediate position in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The intermediate position (or at least one other position)may provide apparatus 200 (and/or any vehicle or vehicle portionincluding or implemented using apparatus 200) with at least one value ofat least one property (e.g., resistance to bending, resistance totorsion, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, some combinationthereof, etc.) that is different from at least one value of at least oneproperty associated with another position (e.g., the first positiondepicted in FIG. 2A, the second position depicted in FIG. 2B, etc.). Forexample, Table 1 shows an exemplary listing of respective propertyvalues for a first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2A, 3A, 3B, 5A,5B, 7A, 7B, etc.), a second position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2B, 4A,4B, 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B, etc.), and an intermediate position (e.g., asdepicted in FIG. 13).

TABLE 1 Property Position 1 Position 2 Intermediate Position BendingHigh Low Medium Torsion High Low Medium Vibration Damping Low HighMedium Shape Arc Flat Slight Arc

It should be appreciated that the information depicted in Table 1 ismerely exemplary, and therefore, may be different in other embodiments.For example, a different number, type, combination of types, etc. ofproperties may be included in Table 1 in other embodiments. As anotherexample, a different number, type, combination of types, etc. ofattributes (e.g., at least one attribute other than position such aspressure, temperature, a property of an applied magnetic field, somecombination thereof, etc.) may be included in Table 1 in otherembodiments. As yet another example, although the values are depicted aslevels (e.g., low, medium, high, etc.) and using words (e.g., arc, flat,slight arc, etc.) in Table 1, the values may be expressed as numbers(e.g., a range, specific numbers, etc.), percentages, some combinationthereof, etc. in other embodiments.

Although one or more of the preceding Figures depict a specific numberand/or arrangement of components, structures, etc. of an apparatus(e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, etc.), it shouldbe appreciated that the number and/or arrangement of the components,structures, etc. are exemplary and the number and/or arrangementcomponents, structures, etc. may be different in other embodiments. Forexample, apparatus 200 and/or apparatus 700 may include any numberand/or arrangement of components (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG.14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) in otherembodiments. As another example, apparatus 900 and/or apparatus 1200 mayinclude any number and/or arrangement of components (e.g., 210, 710 a,710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17,etc.), any number and/or arrangement of apparatuses (e.g., 100 a, 100 b,100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, etc.), etc. in other embodiments.

Although one or more components, structures, etc. of an apparatus (e.g.,100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, etc.) are describedwith specific features, it should be appreciated that the components,structures, etc. are exemplary and that the components, structures, etc.may have different features in other embodiments. For example, at leastone apparatus (e.g., 200, 700, etc.) may include at least one component(e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, etc.) without a corresponding element (e.g.,240, 740 a, 740 b, etc.), and therefore, each component of the at leastone component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, etc.) may be disposed in arespective opening or channel (e.g., 230, 730 a, 730 b, etc.) without arespective element (e.g., 240, 740 a, 740 b, etc.) in one embodiment. Asanother example, one or more of the apparatuses (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, etc.) may include at least one component(e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG.16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) that can be configured by adjusting orsetting one or more types of attributes (e.g., a position, a pressure, atemperature, a property of a magnetic field, a current, a voltage, aduty cycle, a property of a pulse-width modulated signal, somecombination thereof, etc.) in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, one or more of the apparatuses (e.g., 100 a, 100 b,100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, etc.) may include a different numberand/or arrangement of portions including at least one component in otherembodiments. For example, apparatus 900 may include more or less thanthree portions (e.g., 920, 940, 960, etc.) that include at least onerespective component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/orFIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) in other embodiments.As another example, apparatus 1200 may include more or less than threeportions (e.g., 1220, 1230, 1240, etc.) that include at least onerespective component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/orFIG. 15, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) in other embodiments.As a further example, apparatus 1200 may include at least one component(e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410 of FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 15, 1610 of FIG.16, 1710 of FIG. 17, similar to that of portion 920 of apparatus 900,similar to that of portion 940 of apparatus 900, similar to that ofportion 960 of apparatus 900, etc.) that is capable of changing orsetting the shape of at least one portion of apparatus 1200 (e.g., toprovide at least one portion of apparatus 1200 with a rocker shape orconfiguration, a camber shape or configuration, some combinationthereof, etc.) and/or capable of changing or setting at least one otherproperty (e.g., bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, at least onevibration characteristic, some other property, etc.) of at least oneportion of apparatus 1200 in other embodiments.

FIG. 14 shows apparatus 1400 for positioning at least one component inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, apparatus 1400 may be, or be used to implement, a vehicle orat least one portion of a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 14, at least one component 1410 and/or element 1440 maybe disposed at least partially within opening or channel 1430, where theat least one component 1410 and/or element 1440 may be coupled withshaft 1450 and/or knob 1460. Opening or channel 1430 may be defined inor by at least one layer 1420. In one embodiment, knob 1460 may coupleat least one component 1410 with shaft 1450. In one embodiment, shaft1450 may be coupled with at least one rotor 1470, where at least onerotor 1470 and at least one stator (e.g., 1472, 1474, etc.) may form amotor (e.g., a stepper motor, a servo motor, a motor including at leastone brush, a brushless motor, some combination thereof, etc.). In thismanner, at least one component 1410 and/or element 1440 may bepositioned (or repositioned) by rotating or otherwise changing theposition of knob 1460 (e.g., manually, automatically, some combinationthereof, etc.), by rotating or otherwise changing the position of shaft1450 (e.g., using at least one rotor 1470 and/or at least one stator1472, using at least one rotor 1470 and/or at least one stator 1474, bypowering or activating the motor, etc.).

In one embodiment, at least one component 1410 may be implemented by atleast one component 210, at least one component 710 a, at least onecomponent 710 b, some combination thereof, etc. At least one layer 1420may be implemented by at least one layer 220 in one embodiment. In oneembodiment, opening or channel 1430 may be similar to or implemented byopening or channel 230, opening or channel 730 a, opening or channel 730b, some combination thereof, etc. And in one embodiment, element 1440may be implemented by element 240, element 740 a, element 740 b, somecombination thereof, etc.

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 1400 may slide or move withrespect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending,twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 1400). In one embodiment,layers of apparatus 1400 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 1400).

Knob 1460 may allow manual positioning or articulation of at least onecomponent 1410 and/or element 1440 in one embodiment. For example, knob1460 may be rotated by a tool, a user's hand, fingers, palm, glove,foot, boot, etc.

Shaft 1450 may allow automated and/or manual positioning or articulationof at least one component 1410 and/or element 1440 in one embodiment.For example, the position of shaft 1450 may be controlled automaticallyby at least one other component (e.g., a control system includinghardware and/or software capable of activating or powering the motor, afeedback or monitoring component indicating the current position and/orat least one other attribute of shaft 1450, some combination thereof,etc.), thereby allowing at least one component 1410 and/or element 1440to be automatically positioned, automatically repositioned, etc. Asanother example, the position of shaft 1450 may be controlled manuallyusing the motor and at least one other component (e.g., a user interfaceincluding hardware and/or software for allowing a user to control theposition of shaft 1450 by activating or powering the motor), therebyallowing manual positioning and/or repositioning of at least onecomponent 1410 and/or element 1440 via the motor.

At least one rotor 1470 and at least one stator (e.g., 1472, 1474, etc.)may be at least partially disposed in housing 1476. Housing 1476 mayinclude at least one additional component (e.g., circuitry, brushes,bearings, some combination thereof, etc.) in one embodiment. Shaft 1450may extend from housing 1476 in one embodiment. Housing 1476 may besecured to one or more surfaces or portions of at least one layer 1420(e.g., at least partially within cavity 1480) using one or more mountingprovisions (e.g., 1482, 1484, some combination thereof, etc.).

The one or more mounting provisions (e.g., 1482, 1484, etc.) may beseparate from housing 1476 in one embodiment. The one or more mountingprovisions (e.g., 1482, 1484, etc.) may be integrated with housing 1476in one embodiment. And in one embodiment, the one or more mountingprovisions (e.g., 1482, 1484, etc.) may be integrated with at least onelayer 1420.

One or more seals or covers may be used to control dirt, moisture,contamination, etc. For example, seal 1490 may be used to reduce dirt,moisture, contamination, etc. in opening or channel 1430 that at leastpartially encloses at least one component 1410 and/or element 1440. Asanother example, cover 1492 may be placed over cavity 1480 (e.g., to atleast partially enclose the motor, knob 1460, etc.), where cover 1492may act as a seal to reduce dirt, moisture, contamination, etc. incavity 1480. Cover 1492 may define an opening, where knob 1460 mayextend at least partially through the opening, thereby allowing theposition of at least one component 1410 and/or element 1440 to bemanually adjusted while cover 1492 is in place (e.g., positioned overcavity 1480).

In one embodiment, apparatus 1400 of FIG. 14 may be assembled by firstinserting at least one component 1410 and/or element 1440 into openingor channel 1430 through cavity 1480. After at least one component 1410and/or element 1440 is in place, seal 1490 may be put into place. Knob1460 may be placed on and secured to at least one component 1410. Themotor may be lowered into cavity 1480 such that shaft 1450 is insertedin and secured to knob 1460. Housing 1476 of the motor may be secured toat least one layer 1420 via mounting provision 1482 and/or mountingprovision 1484, where mounting provision 1482 and/or mounting provision1484 may include at least one threaded insert, at least one fastener, aclip, a portion defining an opening such that housing 1476 may bestrapped to at least one surface of at least one layer 1420 (e.g., incavity 1480), etc. The motor may be electrically coupled to at least oneother component (e.g., by electrically coupling a cable to the motor, byinserting a plug into a socket, etc.). Cover 1492 may then be placedover cavity 1480 and secured (e.g., using at least one fastener, a latchmechanism, at least one snap, some other mechanism capable of securingcover 1492 over cavity 1480, etc.).

FIG. 15 shows apparatus 1500 for positioning at least one componentusing at least one gear in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. In one embodiment, apparatus 1500 may be, or be used toimplement, a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle.

Apparatus 1500 may operate similarly to apparatus 1400 of FIG. 14,except that a different motor may be used. Apparatus 1500 may include agear assembly (e.g., including gear 1578, gear 1579, etc.) allowingshaft 1550 (coupled with at least one component 1410 via coupler 1552)and shaft 1554 (coupled with at least one rotor 1570 and/or knob 1560)to rotate about different axes (e.g., disposed at approximately 90degrees to one another, disposed at a different angle with respect toone another, etc.). In this manner, at least one component 1410 and/orelement 1440 may be positioned (or repositioned) by rotating orotherwise changing the position of knob 1560 (e.g., manually,automatically, some combination thereof, etc.), by rotating or otherwisechanging the position of shaft 1550 and/or shaft 1554 (e.g., using atleast one rotor 1570 and/or at least one stator 1572, using at least onerotor 1570 and/or at least one stator 1574, by powering or activatingthe motor, etc.).

The gear assembly (e.g., including gear 1578, gear 1579, etc.) may be orform a worm gear assembly, a bevel gear assembly, another type of gearassembly, etc. In one embodiment, the gear assembly (e.g., includinggear 1578, gear 1579, etc.) may be disposed within housing 1576, andtherefore, may be part of the motor. In this case, shafts 1550 and 1554may extend from housing 1576. Alternatively, the gear assembly may beseparate from and/or disposed outside of housing 1576 (e.g., in aseparate housing or gear box). In this case, shaft 1554 may extendbetween housing 1576 and a separate housing or gearbox (e.g., thatincludes gear 1578 and/or gear 1579), whereas shaft 1550 may extend fromthe separate housing or gearbox (e.g., that includes gear 1578 and/orgear 1579).

At least one rotor 1570 and at least one stator (e.g., 1572, 1574, etc.)may be at least partially disposed in housing 1576. Housing 1576 mayinclude at least one additional component (e.g., circuitry, brushes,bearings, some combination thereof, etc.) in one embodiment. Shaft 1550may extend from housing 1576 in one embodiment. Housing 1576 may besecured to one or more surfaces or portions of at least one layer 1420(e.g., at least partially within cavity 1480) using one or more mountingprovisions (e.g., 1582, 1584, 1586, 1588, some combination thereof,etc.).

The one or more mounting provisions (e.g., 1582, 1584, 1586, 1588, somecombination thereof, etc.) may be separate from housing 1576 in oneembodiment. The one or more mounting provisions (e.g., 1582, 1584, 1586,1588, some combination thereof, etc.) may be integrated with housing1576 in one embodiment. And in one embodiment, the one or more mountingprovisions (e.g., 1582, 1584, 1586, 1588, some combination thereof,etc.) may be integrated with at least one layer 1420.

In one embodiment, cover 1592 may have defined therein an openingallowing housing 1576 to protrude from cavity 1480. In otherembodiments, housing 1576 may be contained within cavity 1480 similar tohousing 1476 of FIG. 14, and therefore, shaft 1554 and/or knob 1560 mayextend through cover 1592 to allow knob 1560 to be manually adjustedwhile cover 1592 is in place (e.g., positioned over cavity 1480).

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 1500 may slide or move withrespect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending,twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 1500). In one embodiment,layers of apparatus 1500 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 1500).

Although FIGS. 14 and 15 depict particular mechanisms for articulatingat least one component 1410 (e.g., one or more shafts, a coupler, atleast one gear, a knob, etc.), it should be appreciated that at leastone component 1410 and/or element 1440 may be positioned or repositionedusing another type of mechanism in other embodiments. For example, amechanism including at least one cable and/or at least one pulley may beused to change the position of at least one component 1410 and/orelement 1440, a mechanism capable of translating rotational movementinto linear movement may be used to change the position of at least onecomponent 1410 and/or element 1440, etc.

In one embodiment, the position of more than one component (e.g., of atleast one component 1410, similar to at least one component 1410, etc.)may be controlled using the same actuating mechanism. For example, aplurality of components may be coupled with one another via a linkage,cable, gear train, etc., thereby allowing the position of a plurality ofcomponents to be determined or changed contemporaneously using the sameactuating mechanism (e.g., a knob and/or motor similar to that shown inFIG. 14, a knob and/or motor similar to that shown in FIG. 15, etc.). Inthis manner, properties of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) may be setor changed more efficiently (e.g., since a plurality of components canbe configured contemporaneously and each component need not beindividually configured) and the overall cost of the apparatus (or avehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented bythe apparatus) can be reduced (e.g., by reducing the number of actuatingmechanisms).

Alternatively, one or more components (e.g., of at least one component1410, similar to at least one component 1410, etc.) may be configured,controlled, adjusted, etc. independently or individually (e.g., using atleast one respective actuating mechanism for each component or set ofcomponents). In this manner, the configurability of the apparatus (or atleast one portion thereof) may be increased by allowing, for example,one portion of the apparatus to be configured independently of anotherportion of the apparatus. And in one embodiment, a plurality ofcomponents may be configured contemporaneously (e.g., using the samemechanism) while at least one other component may be configuredindependently (e.g., using another mechanism) from the plurality ofcomponents.

Although FIGS. 14 and 15 show components with particular shapes andsizes, it should be appreciated that components of different shapesand/or sizes may be used in other embodiments. Additionally, althoughFIGS. 14 and 15 show particular arrangements and configurations ofcomponents, it should be appreciated that the arrangements and/orconfigurations of the components may be different in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, properties of at least one component (e.g., 210, 710a, 710 b, 1410, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) may be set orvaried by setting or changing the pressure in a cavity of or defined bythe at least one component. For example, a higher pressure within thecavity may result in a component that is stiffer, thereby increasing thebending stiffness and/or torsional stiffness of the apparatus (or avehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented bythe apparatus) that includes the component. As another example, a lowerpressure within the cavity may result in a component that is more ableto absorb vibrations and/or provide vibration isolation, therebyincreasing the vibration damping (or changing another vibrationcharacteristic such as the damping coefficient, at least one dampednatural frequency, at least one undamped natural frequency, vibrationfrequency response, etc.) of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) thatincludes the component.

In one embodiment, the shape of a portion of an apparatus (or a vehicle,or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by theapparatus) that includes the at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a,710 b, 1410, 1610 of FIG. 16, 1710 of FIG. 17, etc.) may be changed bychanging the pressure within the cavity of the at least one component.For example, where a component has a bent shape responsive to a lowerpressure within a cavity of the component, the shape of the componentmay be changed (e.g., the radius of the bend may be increased, thecomponent may be flattened, etc.) by increasing the pressure within thecavity. Accordingly, since the shape of the apparatus (or a vehicle, orat least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus)that includes the component can be changed by changing the shape of thecomponent, the shape of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) thatincludes the component can be changed by changing the pressure withinthe cavity of the component.

FIG. 16 shows apparatus 1600 allowing a pressure inside of at least onecomponent to be set or varied in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 1600 may be, or be usedto implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 16, piston 1652 may be moved inside of cavity 1615(e.g., defined in or by at least one component 1610) to change thepressure within cavity 1615. In one embodiment, the volume within cavity1615 may change responsive to a change in the position of piston 1652within cavity 1615. For example, responsive to piston 1652 being movedinto cavity 1615 (e.g., away from seal 1490), the pressure may beincreased and/or the volume may be decreased. As another example,responsive to piston 1652 being moved toward the outside of cavity 1615(e.g., toward seal 1490), the pressure may be decreased and/or thevolume may be increased.

In one embodiment, piston 1652 may be actuated by a rotation ofcomponent 1678. For example, piston 1652 may be coupled with component1679 via connecting member 1650, where component 1679 may includeelements capable of engaging, interfacing with, meshing with, etc.elements of component 1678. As such, component 1678 (and thereforeconnecting member 1650 and piston 1652) may be moved in one directionresponsive to a rotation of component 1679 in a first direction (e.g.,clockwise, counterclockwise, etc.), whereas component 1678 (andtherefore connecting member 1650 and piston 1652) may be moved inanother direction responsive to a rotation of component 1679 in a seconddirection (e.g., clockwise, counterclockwise, etc.). In this manner, arotation of component 1678 may result in a linear actuation of piston1652 via connecting member 1650.

In one embodiment, component 1678 may include protruding elements (e.g.,teeth, posts, tabs, grooves, etc.) that can engage, interface with, meshwith, etc. elements (e.g., teeth, grooves, holes, etc.) of component1679. In one embodiment, component 1678 may include other types ofelements (e.g., grooves, holes, etc.) that can engage, interface with,mesh with, etc. elements (e.g., teeth, posts, tabs, grooves, etc.) ofcomponent 1679. And in one embodiment, component 1678 and/or component1679 may be or include at least one gear.

In one embodiment, component 1678 may be rotated using knob 1560. Forexample, component 1678 and knob 1560 may be coupled with shaft 1654.Knob 1560 may be rotated by a tool, a user's hand, fingers, palm, glove,foot, boot, etc. In this manner, knob 1560 may be used to manuallyadjust the position of piston 1652 in cavity 1615 of the component,thereby allowing manual adjustment of the pressure inside cavity 1615 ofat least one component 1610.

In one embodiment, component 1678 may be rotated using at least onerotor 1570 and/or at least one stator (e.g., 1572, 1574, etc.). Forexample, component 1678 and at least one rotor 1570 may be coupled withshaft 1654, where at least one rotor 1570 and the at least one stator(e.g., 1572, 1574, etc.) may form a motor (e.g., a stepper motor, aservo motor, a motor including at least one brush, a brushless motor,some combination thereof, etc.). In this manner, piston 1652 may bemoved or positioned (or repositioned) inside cavity 1615 (e.g., of atleast one component 1610) by rotating or otherwise changing the positionof shaft 1654 (e.g., using at least one rotor 1650 and/or stator 1572,using at least one rotor 1650 and/or stator 1574, by powering oractivating the motor, etc.), thereby allowing automatic or motorizedadjustment of the pressure inside cavity 1615 of at least one component1610.

Component 1678 and/or component 1679 may be disposed within housing1576, and therefore, may be part of the motor. In this case, shaft 1654and connecting member 1650 may extend from housing 1576. Alternatively,component 1678 and/or component 1679 may be separate from and/ordisposed outside of housing 1576 (e.g., in a separate housing or gearbox). In this case, shaft 1654 may extend between housing 1576 and aseparate housing or gearbox (e.g., that includes component 1678 and/orcomponent 1679), whereas connecting member 1650 may extend from theseparate housing or gearbox (e.g., that includes component 1678 and/orcomponent 1679).

It should be appreciated that at least one rotor 1570 and/or the atleast one stator (e.g., 1572, 1574, etc.) may be used to manually and/orautomatically adjust the pressure inside cavity 1615 of at least onecomponent 1610. For example, the position of shaft 1654 may becontrolled automatically by at least one other component (e.g., acontrol system including hardware and/or software capable of activatingor powering the motor, a feedback or monitoring component indicating thecurrent position and/or at least one other attribute of shaft 1654, somecombination thereof, etc.), thereby allowing the position of piston 1652to be controlled automatically. As another example, the position ofshaft 1654 may be controlled manually using the motor and at least oneother component (e.g., a user interface including hardware and/orsoftware for allowing a user to manually control the position of theshaft by activating or powering the motor), thereby allowing manualpositioning and/or repositioning of piston 1652 via the motor.

In one embodiment, piston 1652 may be rotatably coupled with connectingmember 1650. As such, piston 1652 may be actuated (e.g., with reducedbinding, friction, etc.) despite changes in angle between connectingmember 1650 and piston 1652. For example, the angle between connectingmember 1650 and piston 1652 may change as apparatus 1600 and/or at leastone component 1610 is bent, twisted, or otherwise subjected to a changein shape. Thus, piston 1652 may be actuated despite changes in the shapeof apparatus 1600 and/or at least one component 1610.

In one embodiment, cavity 1615 may be filled with one or more fluids(e.g., air, water, oil, a gas, etc.). The one or more fluids may be inone or more states (e.g., gas, liquid, solid, etc.).

In one embodiment, at least one property of an apparatus (or a vehicle,or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by theapparatus) may determined, configured, altered, etc. based on: aposition of at least one component (e.g., as described with respect toFIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B,FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B,FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG.15, some combination thereof, etc.); a pressure inside of the at leastone component (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 16); somecombination thereof; etc. In one embodiment, an assembly for adjustingthe position of at least one component and/or element (e.g., as shown inFIG. 14, FIG. 15, etc.) may be disposed in a cavity (e.g., 1410) of anapparatus (e.g., 1400, 1500, 1600, etc.) along with an assembly foradjusting the pressure inside at least one component (e.g., as shown inFIG. 16). For example, the assembly for adjusting the pressure inside ofat least one component (e.g., as shown in FIG. 16) may be disposed tothe right of the assembly for adjusting the position of at least onecomponent and/or element (e.g., as shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 15, etc.),where the components coupling the motor with the at least one component(e.g., housing 1476, knob 1460, shaft 1450, housing 1576, shaft 1550,coupler 1552, etc.) may be hollow to allow the connecting member (e.g.,1650) and/or the piston (e.g., 1652) to pass inside and/or through thecomponents. In this manner, the pressure inside of at least onecomponent and the position of the at least one component can becontemporaneously adjusted (e.g., manually, automatically, etc.).

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 1600 may slide or move withrespect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending,twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 1600). In one embodiment,layers of apparatus 1600 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 1600).

Although FIG. 16 depicts a particular mechanism for articulating piston1652 (e.g., connecting member 1650, component 1678, component 1679,etc.), it should be appreciated that piston 1652 may be positioned orrepositioned using another type of mechanism in other embodiments. Forexample, a mechanism including at least one cable and/or at least onepulley may be used to change the position of piston 1652, a mechanismcapable of translating rotational movement into linear movement may beused to change the position of piston 1652, etc.

In one embodiment, the position of more than one piston may becontrolled using the same actuating mechanism. For example, a pluralityof pistons and/or connecting members may be coupled with one another viaa linkage, cable, gear train, etc., thereby allowing the position of aplurality of pistons to be determined or changed contemporaneously usingthe same actuating mechanism (e.g., a knob and/or motor similar to thatshown in FIG. 16). In one embodiment, each piston of the plurality ofpistons may be disposed in a respective cavity (e.g., similar to cavity1615) of a respective component (e.g., 1610. In this manner, at leastone property (e.g., e.g., bending stiffness or rigidity, torsionalstiffness or rigidity, at least one vibration characteristic, shape,etc.) of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion,including or implemented by the apparatus) may be set or changed moreefficiently (e.g., since a plurality of components can be configuredcontemporaneously and each component need not be individuallyconfigured) and the overall cost of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or atleast one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus)can be reduced (e.g., by reducing the number of actuating mechanisms).

Alternatively, one or more components (e.g., of at least one component1610, similar to at least one component 1610, etc.) may be configured,controlled, adjusted, etc. independently or individually (e.g., using atleast one respective actuating mechanism for each component or set ofcomponents). In this manner, the configurability of the apparatus (or atleast one portion thereof) may be increased by allowing, for example,one portion of the apparatus to be configured independently of anotherportion of the apparatus. And in one embodiment, a plurality ofcomponents may be configured contemporaneously (e.g., using the samemechanism) while at least one other component may be configuredindependently (e.g., using another mechanism) from the plurality ofcomponents.

In one embodiment, pressure inside at least one component 1610 may beset or changed by changing a temperature of the apparatus 1600 and/orthe at least one component 1610. The temperature may be set, changed,regulated, etc. using a resistive heating device, a heat exchanger,thermoelectric cooler, another device capable of transferring heat to atleast one component 1610, another device capable of transferring heatfrom at least one component 1610, some combination thereof, etc. In thismanner, at least one property (e.g., e.g., bending stiffness orrigidity, torsional stiffness or rigidity, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, shape, etc.) of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) may bedetermined, configured, changed, etc. by changing the temperature of theapparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including orimplemented by the apparatus) and/or at least one component of theapparatus.

Although FIG. 16 shows components and/or elements with particular shapesand sizes, it should be appreciated that components and/or elements ofdifferent shapes and/or sizes may be used in other embodiments.Additionally, although FIG. 16 shows particular arrangements andconfigurations of components and/or elements, it should be appreciatedthat the arrangements and/or configurations of the components and/orelements may be different in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, the at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b,1410, 1610, 1710 of FIG. 17, as described with respect to FIG. 2A, FIG.2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 6A, FIG.6B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 10A, FIG.10B, FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16,FIG. 17, some combination thereof, etc.) may be made from a shape metalalloy (SMA) such as nickel-titanium (Nitinol), copper-aluminum-nickel,copper-zinc-aluminum, nickel-aluminum, some combination thereof, etc. Atleast one property (e.g., bending stiffness or rigidity, torsionalstiffness or rigidity, at least one vibration characteristic, shape,etc.) of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion,including or implemented by the apparatus) may be determined,configured, adjusted, etc. based on the state of the SMA of the at leastone component. The state of the SMA may be configured, determined,altered, etc. by changing or setting the temperature of the at least onecomponent using resistive heating (e.g., by passing an electricalcurrent through the SMA to heat the SMA), using another component (e.g.,a resistive heating device, a heat exchanger, etc.) to transfer heat(e.g., via conduction, convection, radiation, some combination thereof,etc.) to the at least one component, using another component (e.g., athermoelectric cooler, a heat exchanger, etc.) to transfer heat (e.g.,via conduction, convection, radiation, some combination thereof, etc.)from the at least one component, etc.

The state of the SMA of the component may correspond to a phase orcrystal structure of the SMA. In one embodiment, the SMA may be placedin a first state by inducing a martensite phase in the SMA, whereas theSMA may be placed in a second state by inducing an austenite phase inthe SMA. It should be appreciated that the SMA may be associated withtwo states (e.g., a one-way SMA having two phases), three states (e.g.,a two-way SMA having three phases), or another number of states.

For example, SMA of at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b,1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) may be placed in a first state (e.g., associatedwith a first attribute or set or attributes) by adjusting thetemperature of the SMA to a first value or range of values. In the firststate, the SMA may be relatively flexible and/or soft, and therefore,impart a first set of properties (e.g., reduced bending stiffness,reduced torsional stiffness, increased vibration damping, a firstdamping coefficient, a first damped natural frequency, a first undampednatural frequency, a first vibration frequency response, etc.) to theapparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including orimplemented by the apparatus) including the at least one component.However, when the at least one component is placed in a second state(e.g., associated with a second attribute or set or attributes), the SMAmay be more rigid, harder, less flexible, etc. In one embodiment, the atleast one component may be placed in the second state by adjusting thetemperature to a second value or range of values. Therefore, the SMA mayimpart a second set of properties (e.g., increased bending stiffness,increased torsional stiffness, reduced vibration damping, a seconddamping coefficient, a second damped natural frequency, a secondundamped natural frequency, a second vibration frequency response, etc.)to the apparatus including the at least one component. It should beappreciated that the SMA may be placed in one or more additional states(e.g., by changing the temperature to at least one other value or rangeof values), thereby allowing the SMA to impart at least one other set ofproperties to the apparatus including the at least one component.

As another example, the shape of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus)including the at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410,1610, 1710, etc.) may be determined, configured, altered, etc. based onthe state of the SMA of the at least one component. In one embodiment,the apparatus may be configured into a first shape responsive to placingthe SMA in a first state (e.g., associated with a first attribute or setor attributes), whereas the apparatus may be configured into a secondshape responsive to placing the SMA in a second state (e.g., associatedwith a second attribute or set or attributes). In one embodiment, aparticular state of the SMA may be a relaxed state of the SMA (e.g.,associated with the SMA being more flexible and/or soft, associated withthe SMA being in the martensite phase, etc.), and therefore, the shapeof the apparatus including the at least one component may be determinedby at least one other layer of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus), atleast one other component of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus), etc. Inone embodiment, a particular state of the SMA may be a shape-memory ornon-relaxed state of the SMA (e.g., associated with the SMA being morestiff and/or hard, associated with the SMA being in the austenite phase,etc.), and therefore, the shape of the apparatus including the at leastone component may be determined by the at least one component. In thiscase, the at least one component (e.g., including the SMA) may workagainst at least one other layer of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or atleast one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus),at least one other component of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus), etc.

In one embodiment, at least one property of an apparatus (or a vehicle,or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by theapparatus) may be determined, configured, altered, etc. based on: astate of SMA of at least one component; a position of at least onecomponent (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A,FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 7A,FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG.11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, some combinationthereof, etc.); a pressure inside of the at least one component (e.g.,as described with respect to FIG. 16); some combination thereof; etc. Inthis manner, embodiments of the present invention can improve controlover at least one property of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) or aportion thereof.

In one embodiment, the actuator used to change the position of at leastone component and/or adjust a pressure inside of at least one componentmay be a SMA actuator. For example, a linear actuator from Miga MotorCompany may be used to change the position of at least one componentand/or adjust a pressure inside of at least one component. As anotherexample, a rotary actuator (e.g., using an SMA to rotate a member) maybe used to change the position of at least one component and/or adjust apressure inside of at least one component.

The properties of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicleportion, including or implemented by the apparatus) may be determined,configured, altered, controlled, etc. using at least one componentincluding magnetorheological fluid in one embodiment. For example, anapparatus may include one or more magnets (e.g., capable of generating amagnetic field) in or around at least one component includingmagnetorheological fluid, where one or more properties of the magneticfield (e.g., strength, magnetic flux density, direction, location,shape, etc.) may be used to adjust at least one property of themagnetorheological fluid (e.g., viscosity, etc.). In one embodiment, themagnetorheological fluid may include a carrier fluid (e.g., oil, etc.)with particles (e.g., made of iron or some other material capable ofbeing moved, oriented, or otherwise influenced by a magnetic field)dispersed therein. Setting or changing at least one property of themagnetorheological fluid (e.g., of at least one component) may be usedto configure or change at least one property (e.g., bending stiffness,torsional stiffness, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.)of the at least one component, where the at least one property of the atleast one component may affect, determine, provide, etc. at least oneproperty (e.g., bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, at least onevibration characteristic, shape, etc.) of at least one apparatus (e.g.,including the at least one component). Accordingly, one or moreproperties (e.g., bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, at least onevibration characteristic, shape, etc.) of the apparatus (e.g., 100 a,100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800,1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) including the at least one component(e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) may be determined,configured, altered, etc. based on at least one property of a magneticfield.

In one embodiment, setting or configuring magnetorheological fluid of atleast one component in a first state (e.g., subjecting themagnetorheological fluid to a magnetic field with a first property orset of properties) may result in at least one component that is stiffer,thereby increasing the bending stiffness and/or torsional stiffness ofthe apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, includingor implemented by the apparatus) that includes the at least onecomponent. Alternatively, configuring magnetorheological fluid of atleast one component in a second state (e.g., subjecting themagnetorheological fluid to a weaker or otherwise different magneticfield than that associated with the first state, subjecting themagnetorheological fluid to no magnetic field, etc.) may result in atleast one component that is less stiff, thereby reducing the bendingstiffness and/or torsional stiffness of the apparatus (or a vehicle, orat least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus)that includes the at least one component.

In one embodiment, configuring magnetorheological fluid of at least onecomponent in a first state (e.g., subjecting the magnetorheologicalfluid to a magnetic field with a first property or set of properties)may result in at least one component that is less able to absorbvibrations and/or provide vibration isolation, thereby decreasing thevibration damping of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicleportion, including or implemented by the apparatus) that includes the atleast one component. Alternatively, configuring magnetorheological fluidof at least one component in a second state (e.g., subjecting themagnetorheological fluid to a weaker or otherwise different magneticfield than that associated with the first state, subjecting themagnetorheological fluid to no magnetic field, etc.) may result in atleast one component that is more able to absorb vibrations and/orprovide vibration isolation, thereby increasing the vibration damping ofan apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, includingor implemented by the apparatus) that includes the at least onecomponent.

FIG. 17 shows apparatus 1700 allowing one or more properties of amagnetorheological fluid of at least one component to be set or variedin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, apparatus 1700 may be, or be used to implement, a vehicle orat least one portion of a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 17, one or more magnets (e.g., 1750, 1752, etc.) may bedisposed in proximity to at least one component 1710 includingmagnetorheological fluid 1715. In one embodiment, magnetorheologicalfluid 1715 may be contained in a cavity of at least one component 1710by one or more plugs (e.g., 1770, 1772, etc.). The one or more magnets(e.g., 1750, 1752, etc.) may be used to create a magnetic field (e.g.,represented by the arrows depicted in FIG. 17) across or in proximity tomagnetorheological fluid 1715, where one or more properties of themagnetic field (e.g., strength, magnetic flux density, direction,location, shape, etc.) may be set or adjusted to set or adjust theproperties of magnetorheological fluid 1715 (e.g., viscosity, etc.).Setting or changing at least one property of magnetorheological fluid1715 (e.g., of at least one component 1710) may be used to configure orchange at least one property (e.g., bending stiffness, torsionalstiffness, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.) of atleast one component 1710, where the at least one property of at leastone component 1710 may affect, determine, provide, etc. at least oneproperty (e.g., bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, at least onevibration characteristic, shape, etc.) of at least one apparatus 1700.Accordingly, one or more properties (e.g., bending stiffness, torsionalstiffness, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.) ofapparatus 1700 (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, includingor implemented by apparatus 1700) or a portion thereof may bedetermined, configured, altered, etc. based on at least one property ofa magnetic field (e.g., generated by magnet 1750, magnet 1752, etc.).

One or more properties of the magnetic field may be set or adjusted bydetermining, configuring, altering, etc. properties of the at least onemagnet (e.g., 1750, 1752, etc.) in one embodiment. For example, wherethe at least one magnet is an electromagnet, one or more properties ofthe electric field may be set or adjusted by varying the current flowingthrough the electromagnet or by adjusting at least one other property ofthe electricity flowing through the electromagnet (e.g., a voltage, aduty cycle or another property of a pulse-width modulated signal, etc.).As another example, the position or orientation of the at least onemagnet may be set or changed to set or change the direction of themagnetic field (e.g., reverse the magnetic field, change the angle ofthe magnetic field lines with respect to magnetorheological fluid 1715,etc.), the strength of the magnetic field (e.g., by causing the magneticflux density in or around magnetorheological fluid 1715 to change, bycausing the number of magnetic field lines or amount of the magneticfield in or around magnetorheological fluid 1715 to change, etc.), orsome other property of the magnetic field. And as a further example,where the at least one magnet is implemented using an apparatus (e.g.,1800) that can be configured in a plurality of states and/or with atleast one attribute (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 18A and/orFIG. 18B), the state (e.g., associated with a particular attribute orset of attributes) of the apparatus (e.g., 1800) may be set or changedto determine, configure, adjust, etc. one or more properties of themagnetic field.

Cavity 1780 (e.g., located at one side of at least one component 1710)and/or cavity 1782 (e.g., located at another side of at least onecomponent 1710) may allow servicing of magnetorheological fluid 1715 inone embodiment. For example, a plug (e.g., 1770, 1772, etc.) may beremoved (e.g., after removing cover 1792 and/or cover 1793 to provideaccess to plug 1770 and/or plug 1772, respectively) to allowmagnetorheological fluid 1715 to be drained, replaced, added to, etc. Inone embodiment, plug 1770 and plug 1772 may be removed to allowmagnetorheological fluid 1715 to be pumped or pulled out of at least onecomponent 1710 (e.g., using a vacuum). It should be appreciated that theplugs (e.g., 1770, 1772, etc.) may also allow at least one component1710 to be cleaned, rinsed, etc. In this manner, servicing ofmagnetorheological fluid 1715 (e.g., that has aged, that has experienceda decrease in effectiveness, that is desired to be replaced or removed,etc.) may be performed.

One or more seals or covers may be used to control dirt, moisture,contamination, etc. For example, at least one seal (e.g., 1790, 1791,etc.) may be used to reduce dirt, moisture, contamination, etc. inopening or channel 1730 that at least partially encloses at least onecomponent 1710 and/or element 1740. As another example, cover 1792 maybe placed over cavity 1780 (e.g., to at least partially enclose plug1770, one side of at least one component 1710, etc.), where cover 1792may act as a seal to reduce dirt, moisture, contamination, etc. incavity 1780. As a further example, cover 1793 may be placed over cavity1782 (e.g., to at least partially enclose plug 1772, one side of atleast one component 1710, etc.), where cover 1793 may act as a seal toreduce dirt, moisture, contamination, etc. in cavity 1782.

In one embodiment, at least one component 1710 may be implemented by atleast one component 210, at least one component 710 a, at least onecomponent 710 b, at least one component 1410, at least one component1610, some combination thereof, etc. At least one layer 1720 may beimplemented by at least one layer 220 in one embodiment. In oneembodiment, opening or channel 1730 may be similar to or implemented byopening or channel 230, opening or channel 730 a, opening or channel 730b, opening or channel 1430, opening or channel 1630, some combinationthereof, etc. And in one embodiment, element 1740 may be implemented byelement 240, element 740 a, element 740 b, element 1440, element 1640,some combination thereof, etc.

In one embodiment, a plurality of components (e.g., of at least onecomponent 1710, similar to at least one component 1710, etc.) may becontemporaneously configured (e.g., using the same magnet or set ofmagnets). In this manner, properties of an apparatus (or a vehicle, orat least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus)may be set or changed more efficiently (e.g., since a plurality ofcomponents can be configured contemporaneously and each component neednot be individually configured) and the overall cost of the apparatus(or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implementedby the apparatus) can be reduced (e.g., by reducing the number ofmagnets or other components used to generate a magnetic field).

Alternatively, one or more components (e.g., of at least one component1710, similar to at least one component 1710, etc.) may be configured,controlled, adjusted, etc. independently or individually (e.g., using atleast one respective magnet for each component or set of components). Inthis manner, the configurability of the apparatus (or at least oneportion thereof) may be increased by allowing, for example, one portionof the apparatus to be configured independently of another portion ofthe apparatus. And in one embodiment, a plurality of components may beconfigured contemporaneously (e.g., using the same magnet or set ofmagnets) while at least one other component may be configuredindependently (e.g., using another magnet or set of magnets) from theplurality of components.

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 1700 may slide or move withrespect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending,twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 1700). In one embodiment,layers of apparatus 1700 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 1700).

At least one magnet (e.g., 1750, 1752, etc.) may be coupled with anapparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400,1500, 1600, etc.) in one or more ways. For example, at least one magnetmay fit in a recess or opening in an apparatus and secured via a pressfit, an adhesive, at least one flange, at least one bracket, at leastone strap, at least one snap, at least one fastener, some othermechanism, etc. As another example, at least one magnet may be disposedbetween at least two layers of an apparatus, where the at least onemagnet may be inserted during and/or after manufacturing of theapparatus. As another example, at least one magnet may be disposed on alayer of an apparatus and secured via a press fit, an adhesive, at leastone flange, at least one bracket, at least one strap, at least one snap,at least one fastener, some other mechanism, etc.

And as yet another example, at least one magnet (e.g., 1750, 1752, etc.)may be disposed in an opening or channel (e.g., 1730) of at least onecomponent (e.g., 1710). The at least one magnet may be inserted into theopening or channel (e.g., 1730) contemporaneously with the at least onecomponent (e.g., 1710), before the at least one component (e.g., 1710),after the at least one component (e.g., 1710), etc.

FIGS. 18A and 18B show apparatus 1800 allowing one or more properties ofa magnetic field to be set or varied in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 1800 may be, orbe used to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle. Inone embodiment, magnet 1850 may be used to implement magnet 1750 ofapparatus 1700. And in one embodiment, magnet 1852 may be used toimplement magnet 1752 of apparatus 1700.

In a first state as shown in FIG. 18A, the respective poles of magnet1850 and magnet 1852 may be aligned (e.g., the north pole of magnet 1850overlapping or in proximity to the north pole of magnet 1852, the southpole of magnet 1850 overlapping or in proximity to the south pole ofmagnet 1852, etc.), thereby generating a magnetic field (e.g., on theside of magnet 1852 opposite magnet 1850 as depicted in FIG. 18A by atleast one magnetic field line 1854, in proximity to and/or passingthrough magnetorheological fluid 1715 of at least one component 1710,etc.). In a second state as shown in FIG. 18B, the respective poles ofmagnet 1850 and magnet 1852 may be out of alignment (e.g., the northpole of magnet 1850 overlapping or in proximity to the south pole ofmagnet 1852, the south pole of magnet 1850 overlapping or in proximityto the north pole of magnet 1852, etc.), thereby reducing or eliminatingthe magnetic field (e.g., generated in the first state, on the side ofmagnet 1852 opposite magnet 1850 as depicted in FIG. 18A by at least onemagnetic field line 1854, in proximity to and/or passing throughmagnetorheological fluid 1715 of at least one component 1710, etc.). Inone embodiment, the magnetic field (e.g., generated in the first state,on the side of magnet 1852 opposite magnet 1850 as depicted in FIG. 18Aby at least one magnetic field line 1854, in proximity to and/or passingthrough magnetorheological fluid 1715 of at least one component 1710,etc.) may be reduced or eliminated in the second state since at leastone magnetic field line (e.g., 1856) may flow from the north pole ofmagnet 1852 to the south pole of magnet 1850 (e.g., following theshortest path from a north pole to a south pole as depicted by at leastone magnetic field line 1856 in FIG. 18B) instead of from the north poleto the south pole of magnet 1852 (e.g., as depicted by at least onemagnetic field line 1854 in FIG. 18A). As such, one or more propertiesof a magnetic field (e.g., strength, magnetic flux density, direction,location, shape, etc.) may be varied by changing the position of magnet1850 with respect to magnet 1852.

In one embodiment, the relative positions of magnets 1850 and 1852 maybe controlled or changed using motor 1860. For example, shaft 1870 maybe coupled with magnet 1850 and at least one rotor of motor 1860. Inthis manner, shaft 1870 may be rotated as the at least one rotor ofmotor 1860 moves with respect to at least one stator of motor 1860(e.g., responsive to applying electricity to or powering motor 1860),thereby allowing one or more properties of a magnetic field (e.g.,strength, magnetic flux density, direction, location, shape, etc.) to bevaried by changing the position of magnet 1850 with respect to magnet1852 using motor 1860.

In one embodiment, the relative positions of magnets 1850 and 1852 maybe controlled or changed using electromagnet 1880. For example,electricity may be applied to electromagnet 1880 to align magnet 1850 inthe first position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 18A). As another example,electricity may be applied to electromagnet 1880 to align magnet 1850 inthe second position (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 18B). Electromagnet 1880may align magnet 1850 in the second position by reversing the directionof current flow (e.g., to be opposite to the direction of current flowused to align magnet 1850 in the first position) through electromagnet1880 to swap the poles of electromagnet 1880 (e.g., with respect to thepole arrangement used to align magnet 1850 in the first position).Accordingly, one or more properties of a magnetic field (e.g., strength,magnetic flux density, direction, location, shape, etc.) may be variedby changing the position of magnet 1850 with respect to magnet 1852using electromagnet 1880.

In one embodiment, the relative positions of magnets 1850 and 1852 maybe controlled or changed using knob 1890. Knob 1890 may be coupled withshaft 1870, thereby allowing shaft 1870 to be rotated or movedresponsive to turning knob 1890. Knob 1890 may be rotated by a tool, auser's hand, fingers, palm, glove, foot, boot, etc. In this manner, oneor more properties of a magnetic field (e.g., strength, magnetic fluxdensity, direction, location, shape, etc.) may be varied by changing theposition of magnet 1850 with respect to magnet 1852 using knob 1890.

The relative position of magnets 1850 and 1852 may be controlled orchanged manually and/or automatically. For example, a user may rotateknob 1890 and/or control motor 1860 to rotate shaft 1870, therebyallowing the relative position of magnets 1850 and 1852 to be controlledor changed manually. As another example, the position or rotation ofshaft 1870 may be automatically controlled using a control system (e.g.,including hardware and/or software), where the control system may beused to control the position of shaft 1870 via motor 1860, electromagnet1880, some combination thereof, etc.

Accordingly, one or more properties of a magnetic field (e.g., strength,magnetic flux density, direction, location, shape, etc.) may be set orvaried using motor 1860, electromagnet 1880, knob 1890, some combinationthereof, etc. In one embodiment, one or more properties (e.g., bendingstiffness, torsional stiffness, at least one vibration characteristic,shape, etc.) of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicleportion, including or implemented by the apparatus) including at leastone component (e.g., 1710) may be set or adjusted by configuring atleast one property of magnetorheological fluid (e.g., 1715), where atleast one property of magnetorheological fluid (e.g., 1715) may beadjusted or configured based on one or more properties of a magneticfield in proximity to and/or passing through the magnetorheologicalfluid (e.g., 1715). Thus, where a magnetic field (e.g., having orassociated with at least one property that can be set or varied based ona relative position of a plurality of magnets such as magnets 1850 and1852) is in proximity to and/or passing through magnetorheological fluid(e.g., 1715) of at least one component (e.g., 1710), one or moreproperties (e.g., bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, at least onevibration characteristic, shape, etc.) of an apparatus (or a vehicle, orat least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus)including the at least one component (e.g., 1710) may be set or adjustedusing motor 1860, electromagnet 1880, knob 1890, some combinationthereof, etc.

Although FIGS. 18A and 18B have been discussed with respect to a firstand second position, it should be appreciated that magnet 1850 may bepositioned in one or more intermediate positions (e.g., using motor1860, electromagnet 1880, another electromagnet located at a differentposition, knob 1890, some combination thereof, etc.) between the firstand second positions in one embodiment. One or more properties of themagnetic field may be different in an intermediate position than in thefirst position and/or second position. In this manner, embodiments ofthe present invention may allow greater control over the properties ofthe magnetic field, and therefore, over the properties of an apparatus(or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implementedby the apparatus) including the magnetorheological fluid affected by themagnetic field.

In one embodiment, the position of magnet 1852 may be controlled withrespect to magnet 1850. For example, shaft 1870 may extend through ahole defined in magnet 1850 such that shaft 1870 can turn withoutrotating magnet 1850. In this case, shaft 1870 may act as a locating pinfor magnet 1850. As another example, magnet 1850 and/or magnet 1852 maybe constrained on one or both ends (e.g., by a housing, by an elementthat does not enclose magnet 1850 and/or magnet 1852, etc.).

In one embodiment, magnet 1850 and/or magnet 1852 may be disc-shaped. Inone embodiment, magnet 1850 and/or magnet 1852 may be alternativelyshaped (e.g., as an elliptical prism, as an oval prism, as a triangularprism, as a square prism, as a rectangular prism, as a pentagonal prism,as a hexagonal prism, etc.). And in one embodiment, magnet 1850 and/ormagnet 1852 may define one or more holes or openings.

In one embodiment, the force required to move magnet 1850 with respectto magnet 1852 may be relatively small. In one embodiment, oncepositioned, magnet 1850 may remain in the same position with respect tomagnet 1852 without the application of any external force. Thus,embodiments of the present invention allow the power and/or electricityrequired to change and/or maintain the relative positioning of magnets1850 and 1852 to be reduced.

In one embodiment, at least one property of an apparatus (or a vehicle,or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by theapparatus) may be determined, configured, altered, etc. based on: atleast one property of a magnetorheological fluid of at least onecomponent (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 17, FIG. 18A, FIG.18B, etc.); a state of SMA of at least one component, based on aposition of at least one component (e.g., as described with respect toFIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B,FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B,FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG.15, some combination thereof, etc.); a pressure inside of the at leastone component (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 16); somecombination thereof; etc. In this manner, embodiments of the presentinvention can improve control over at least one property of an apparatus(or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implementedby the apparatus) or a portion thereof.

Although FIGS. 17, 18A and 18B show components and/or elements withparticular shapes and sizes, it should be appreciated that components ofdifferent shapes and/or sizes may be used in other embodiments.Additionally, although FIGS. 17, 18A and 18B show particulararrangements and configurations of components and/or elements, it shouldbe appreciated that the arrangements and/or configurations of thecomponents may be different in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b,1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) may be made from or include a magnetic shapememory alloy (MSMA) or ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA). The atleast one component including the MSMA or FSMA may be constructed and/orfunction similarly to at least one component including an SMA asdescribed above. However, the state of the MSMA or FSMA may beconfigured or changed by configuring or changing at least one propertyof a magnetic field applied to or in proximity to the at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.). In oneembodiment, the magnetic field may be created or applied using at leastone magnet (e.g., 1750, 1752, 1850, 1852, etc.) as discussed withrespect to FIG. 17, 18A, 18B, etc. In this manner, properties of anapparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including orimplemented by the apparatus) including at least one component may beconfigured by setting or changing at least one property of a magneticfield applied to or in proximity to an MSMA or FSMA of the at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.).

FIG. 19 shows apparatus 1900 including at least one element for reducingdelamination of layers of the apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 1900may be, or be used to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of avehicle.

As shown in FIG. 19, a plurality of layers (e.g., 222, 224, 226, etc.)of apparatus 1900 may be compressed and/or held together by at least onefastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and at least one element (e.g., 1920,1925, etc.). In one embodiment, each element of the at least one element(e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.) may include at least one respective threadedinsert. A fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) may be threaded into athreaded insert (e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.) and tightened to compress theplurality of layers (e.g., 222, 224, 226, etc.). In this manner,delamination or separation of the layers (e.g., that may otherwise occurdue to bending of the apparatus, twisting of the apparatus, otherchanges in shape of the apparatus, forces exerted by at least onecomponent 210, etc.) may be reduced by the compressive force generatedby the at least one fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and/or at leastone element (e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.).

In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222, 224, 226, some combinationthereof, etc.) of apparatus 1900 may slide or move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 1900). In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222,224, 226, some combination thereof, etc.) of apparatus 1900 may be fixedor not move with respect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement,bending, twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 1900).

In one embodiment, the at least one fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.)and/or at least one element (e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.) may be formedintegrally with one or more layers. For example, the one or more layers(e.g., 222, 224, 226, etc.) may be formed (e.g., poured and solidified,injection molded, blow molded, etc.) around and/or with the at least onefastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and/or at least one element (e.g.,1920, 1925, etc.). As another example, at least one layer 222 may beformed (e.g., poured and solidified, injection molded, blow molded,etc.) around and/or with the at least one element (e.g., 1920, 1925,etc.). Alternatively, the at least one fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.)and/or at least one element (e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.) may be added as amanufacturing operation after the formation of one or more layers (e.g.,inserted into an opening in a layer, etc.).

In one embodiment, one or more layers may overlap or cover the at leastone fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and/or at least one element (e.g.,1920, 1925, etc.), where the one or more layers (e.g., overlapping orcovering the at least one fastener and/or at least one element) may actto at least partially conceal and/or secure the at least one fastener(e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and/or at least one element (e.g., 1920, 1925,etc.). For example, one or more layers may be disposed on or overlappingat least one layer 222 on the side opposite at least one layer 224. Asanother example, one or more layers may be disposed on or overlapping atleast one layer 226 on the side opposite at least one layer 224. The atleast one fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and/or at least one element(e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.) may be added as a manufacturing operationbefore applying the one or more layers (e.g., overlapping or coveringthe at least one fastener and/or at least one element) in oneembodiment.

In one embodiment, the at least one fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.)and/or at least one element (e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.) may be held inplace by the compressive force of the at least one fastener (e.g., 1910,1915, etc.) and/or at least one element (e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.). In oneembodiment, where each element of the at least one element (e.g., 1920,1925, etc.) includes at least one respective threaded insert, apredetermined torque may be applied to the at least one fastener (e.g.,1910, 1915, etc.) that is threaded into the at least one element (e.g.,1920, 1925, etc.), etc. In one embodiment, the at least one fastener(e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and/or at least one element (e.g., 1920, 1925,etc.) may be secured to apparatus 1900 using an adhesive, ultrasonicwelding, etc.

Although FIG. 19 shows components and/or elements with particular shapesand sizes, it should be appreciated that components and/or elements ofdifferent shapes and/or sizes may be used in other embodiments.Additionally, although FIG. 19 shows particular arrangements andconfigurations of components and/or elements, it should be appreciatedthat the arrangements and/or configurations of the components and/orelements may be different in other embodiments. For example, the atleast one fastener (e.g., 1910, 1915, etc.) and/or at least one element(e.g., 1920, 1925, etc.) may be, or be used to implement, another typeof mechanism (e.g., a rivet, a pin with one end flattened or mushroomedas a manufacturing operation, another element without threads such as apin with a ball lock mechanism, etc.) in other embodiments.

FIG. 20 shows apparatus 2000 including at least one element allowing thecoupling of another object with the apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 2000may be, or be used to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of avehicle.

As shown in FIG. 20, apparatus 2000 may include apparatus 2050, whereapparatus 2050 may include or be coupled with at least one element(e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.). In one embodiment, each element of the atleast one element (e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.) may include at least onerespective threaded insert. In this case, object 2060 (e.g., a binding,a truck, another object, a component including circuitry as discussedherein, etc.) may be secured to apparatus 2050 by inserting a respectivefastener (e.g., 2010, 2015, etc.) through a respective opening definedin object 2060 and into each of the threaded inserts, where a threadedengagement between the fasteners and the threaded inserts may allow thefasteners and the threaded inserts to compress object 2060 againstapparatus 2050. Accordingly, object 2060 may be secured to apparatus2050 which also includes at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) allowing determination, configuration,adjustment, etc. of at least one property (e.g., bending stiffness,torsional stiffness, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.)of apparatus 2000 (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion,including or implemented by apparatus 2000) or at least one portionthereof as discussed herein.

In one embodiment, at least one element may be used to both secure anobject to the apparatus (e.g., as discussed with respect to FIG. 20) andto reduce delamination of layers of the apparatus (e.g., as discussedwith respect to FIG. 19). For example, where at least one element (e.g.,2020, 2025, etc.) includes at least one threaded insert, at least onefastener (e.g., 2010, 2015, etc.) and the at least one threaded insertmay be used to secure an object (e.g., 2060) to the apparatus (e.g.,2000) as well as reduce delamination of one or more layers (e.g., atleast one layer 222 and at least one layer 224) of the apparatus (e.g.,2000).

In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222, 224, 226, some combinationthereof, etc.) of apparatus 2000 may slide or move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 2000). In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222,224, 226, some combination thereof, etc.) of apparatus 2000 may be fixedor not move with respect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement,bending, twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 2000).

In one embodiment, at least one element (e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.) may beformed integrally with one or more layers (e.g., at least one layer 222and/or at least one layer 224). For example, the one or more layers(e.g., 222, 224, etc.) may be formed (e.g., poured and solidified,injection molded, blow molded, etc.) around and/or with the at least oneelement (e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.). Alternatively, the at least oneelement (e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.) may be added as a manufacturingoperation after the formation of one or more layers (e.g., inserted intoan opening defined in at least one layer 222, inserted into an openingin at least one layer 224, etc.).

In one embodiment, one or more layers may overlap or cover the at leastone element (e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.), where the one or more layers(e.g., overlapping or covering the at least one threaded insert) may actto at least partially conceal and/or secure the at least one element(e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.). For example, one or more layers may bedisposed on or overlapping at least one layer 222 on the side oppositeat least one layer 224. The at least one element (e.g., 2020, 2025,etc.) may be added as a manufacturing operation before applying the oneor more layers (e.g., overlapping or covering the at least one element)in one embodiment.

Although FIG. 20 shows components and/or elements with particular shapesand sizes, it should be appreciated that components and/or elements ofdifferent shapes and/or sizes may be used in other embodiments.Additionally, although FIG. 20 shows particular arrangements andconfigurations of components and/or elements, it should be appreciatedthat the arrangements and/or configurations of the components and/orelements may be different in other embodiments. For example, the atleast one fastener (e.g., 2010, 2015, etc.) and/or at least one element(e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.) may be, or be used to implement, another typeof mechanism (e.g., a rivet, a pin with one end flattened or mushroomedas a manufacturing operation, another element without threads such as apin with a ball lock mechanism, etc.) in other embodiments. As anotherexample, the at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410,1610, 1710, etc.) may be disposed in between the at least one element(e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.), on the other side of the at least one element(e.g., 2020, 2025, etc.), some combination thereof, etc. in otherembodiments.

FIG. 21 shows apparatus 2100 defining at least one channel allowing thecoupling of another object with the apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 2100may be, or be used to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of avehicle.

As shown in FIG. 21, apparatus 2100 may include apparatus 2150, whereapparatus 2150 (or at least one portion or at least one componentthereof) may define channel 2155. Object 2160 (e.g., a binding, a truck,another object, a component including circuitry as discussed herein,etc.) may be secured to apparatus 2150 using element 2110 and element2120 in one embodiment. Element 2110 may be inserted into channel 2155and through an opening defined in object 2160, where an engagementbetween element 2110 and element 2120 may secure object 2160 againstapparatus 2150 (e.g., by compressing object 2160 against apparatus2150). In one embodiment, element 2110 may be or include at least onefastener, and element 2120 may be or include at least one nut.Accordingly, object 2160 may be secured to apparatus 2150 which alsoincludes at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610,1710, etc.) allowing determination, configuration, adjustment, etc. ofat least one property (e.g., bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, atleast one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.) of apparatus 2100 (or avehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented byapparatus 2100) as discussed herein.

In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222, 224, 226, some combinationthereof, etc.) of apparatus 2100 may slide or move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 2100). In one embodiment, layers (e.g., 222,224, 226, some combination thereof, etc.) of apparatus 2100 may be fixedor not move with respect to one another (e.g., responsive to a movement,bending, twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 2100).

In one embodiment, channel 2155 may be formed integrally with one ormore layers (e.g., at least one layer 222 and/or at least one layer224). For example, the one or more layers (e.g., 222, 224, etc.) may beformed (e.g., poured and solidified, injection molded, blow molded,etc.) around and/or with an element (e.g., 2157) defining channel 2155.Alternatively, channel 2155 may be added as a manufacturing operationafter the formation of one or more layers. For example, an element(e.g., 2157) defining channel 2155 may be inserted into an openingdefined by at least one layer 222 and/or at least one layer 224. Asanother example, channel 2155 may be formed by removing material from(e.g., via machining or another operation) at least one layer 222 and/orat least one layer 224 to form channel 2155.

In one embodiment, one or more layers may overlap or cover channel 2155and/or element 2157, where the one or more layers (e.g., overlapping orcovering channel 2155 and/or element 2157) may act to at least partiallyconceal and/or secure channel 2155 and/or element 2157. For example, oneor more layers may be disposed on or overlapping at least one layer 222on the side opposite at least one layer 224. Channel 2155 and/or element2157 may be added as a manufacturing operation before applying the oneor more layers (e.g., overlapping or covering channel 2155 and/orelement 2157) in one embodiment.

Although FIG. 21 shows components and/or elements with particular shapesand sizes, it should be appreciated that components and/or elements ofdifferent shapes and/or sizes may be used in other embodiments.Additionally, although FIG. 21 shows particular arrangements andconfigurations of components and/or elements, it should be appreciatedthat the arrangements and/or configurations of the components and/orelements may be different in other embodiments. For example, element2110 and/or element 2120 may be, or be used to implement, another typeof mechanism (e.g., a rivet, a pin with one end flattened or mushroomedas a manufacturing operation, another element without threads such as apin with a ball lock mechanism, etc.) in other embodiments. As anotherexample, the at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410,1610, 1710, etc.) may be disposed on the other side of channel 2155and/or element 2157, on both sides of channel 2155 and/or element 2157,some combination thereof, etc. in other embodiments.

FIG. 22 shows apparatus 2200 allowing communication of signals betweenapparatus 2250 and at least one other object in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, apparatus 2200may include apparatus 2250, object 2260, object 2270, another object,some combination thereof, etc. In one embodiment, apparatus 2250 may be,or be used to implement, a vehicle or at least one portion of a vehicle.In one embodiment, object 2260 may be a binding (e.g., including atleast one base or base plate, at least one strap, at least one highback,at least one step-in binding, at least one component configured torelease a boot or other object from apparatus 2250, etc.). And in oneembodiment, object 2270 may be a boot, shoe, or other object designed toaccept a human foot, ankle, lower leg, etc.

As shown in FIG. 22, signals may be communicated between apparatus 2250and at least one other object (e.g., 2260, 2270, etc.) using a pluralityof signal transfer components. For example, signal transfer component2261 (e.g., of object 2260, coupled with object 2260, disposed at leastpartially within object 2260, etc.) and signal transfer component 2251(e.g., of apparatus 2250, coupled with apparatus 2250, disposed at leastpartially within apparatus 2250, disposed in or between layers ofapparatus 2250, etc.) may be used to communicate signals (e.g., powersignals, data signals, clock signals, etc.) between the object 2260 andapparatus 2250. As another example, signal transfer component 2272(e.g., of object 2270, coupled with object 2270, disposed at leastpartially within object 2270, etc.) and signal transfer component 2252(e.g., of apparatus 2250, coupled with apparatus 2250, disposed at leastpartially within apparatus 2250, disposed in or between layers ofapparatus 2250, etc.) may be used to communicate signals (e.g., powersignals, data signals, clock signals, etc.) between object 2270 andapparatus 2250. And as a further example, signal transfer component 2273(e.g., of object 2270, coupled with object 2270, disposed at leastpartially within object 2270, etc.) and signal transfer component 2263(e.g., of object 2260, coupled with object 2260, disposed at leastpartially within object 2260, etc.) may be used to communicate signals(e.g., power signals, data signals, clock signals, etc.) between object2270 and object 2260.

In one embodiment, signals may be communicated (e.g., between objects,between apparatuses, between at least one object and at least oneapparatus, some combination thereof, etc.) using more than two signaltransfer components. For example, signals may be communicated betweenobject 2270 and apparatus 2250 using signal transfer components 2273 and2263 (e.g., to transfer signals between object 2270 and object 2260) aswell as using signal transfer components 2261 and 2251 (e.g., totransfer signals between object 2260 and apparatus 2250).

In one embodiment, respective signal transfer components of each object(e.g., 2260, 2270, etc.) and/or each apparatus (e.g., 2250) may beelectrically coupled to one another. For example, signals transfercomponents 2261 and 2263 may be electrically coupled to one another byat least one interface 2265 of object 2260, thereby allowing signalcommunication between object 2270 and apparatus 2250 via at least oneinterface 2265.

In one embodiment, signal transfer components (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272,2252, 2273, 2263, some combination thereof, etc.) may include electricalcontacts that are capable of implementing a wired interface fortransferring signals responsive to physical contact between theelectrical contacts of the signal transfer components. For example,electrical contacts may be brought into physical contact with oneanother responsive to object 2260 being disposed on or secured toapparatus 2250 (e.g., where signal transfer components 2251 and 2261include electrical contacts). As another example, electrical contactsmay be brought into physical contact with one another responsive toobject 2270 being disposed on or secured to object 2260 (e.g., wheresignal transfer components 2263 and 2273 include electrical contacts).

In one embodiment, signal transfer components (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272,2252, 2273, 2263, some combination thereof, etc.) may be capable ofimplementing an inductive interface for transferring signals responsiveto bringing the signal transfer components into alignment and/orproximity with one another. For example, where a first signal transfercomponent (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272, 2252, 2273, 2263, some combinationthereof, etc.) is capable of creating a magnetic field, signals may betransferred over an inductive interface formed responsive to at leastone other signal transfer component (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272, 2252, 2273,2263, some combination thereof, etc.) being disposed at least partiallywithin the magnetic field (e.g., created by the first signal transfercomponent). In one embodiment, each of the signal transfer componentscapable of implementing the inductive interface may include at least onerespective coil. In this manner, signals may be transferred using signaltransfer components even though the signal transfer components may notbe in physical contact and/or electrical contact with one another.

As an example, signal transfer components 2252 and 2272 may include atleast one respective coil and/or otherwise be capable of implementing aninductive interface for transferring signals. As such, responsive tosignal transfer components 2252 and 2272 being brought into alignmentand/or proximity with one another (e.g., responsive to object 2270 beingdisposed on or secured to object 2260, etc.), signals may becommunicated between object 2270 and apparatus 2250 (e.g., even thoughsignal transfer components 2252 and 2272 may not be in physical contactand/or electrical contact with one another).

In one embodiment, the inductive interface between two or more signaltransfer components may be used to charge a component (e.g., a battery,a capacitor, an ultracapacitor, another type of component or devicecapable of storing energy, etc.) and communicate signals. For example,signal transfer components 2252 and 2272 may be capable of implementingan inductive interface used to communicate signals between apparatus2250 and object 2270 as well as charge a component of either apparatus2250 or object 2270. In one embodiment, charging may be performed usingan energy source of or electrically coupled to apparatus 2250 that iscapable of supplying energy or electricity (e.g., via the inductiveinterface implemented by signal transfer components 2252 and 2272) to atleast one component of object 2270. Alternatively, charging may beperformed in one embodiment using an energy source of or electricallycoupled to object 2270 that is capable of supplying energy orelectricity (e.g., via the inductive interface implemented by signaltransfer components 2252 and 2272) to at least one component ofapparatus 2250.

In one embodiment, signal transfer components (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272,2252, 2273, 2263, some combination thereof, etc.) may be capable ofimplementing a wireless interface for transferring signals responsive tobringing the signal transfer components into alignment and/or proximitywith one another. For example, one signal transfer component (e.g.,2261, 2251, 2272, 2252, 2273, 2263, some combination thereof, etc.) mayconvert an electrical signal into a wireless signal for transmission toat least one other signal transfer component (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272,2252, 2273, 2263, some combination thereof, etc.), where the at leastone other signal transfer component may receive the wireless signal andconvert it back into an electrical signal. The wireless signalscommunicated between signal transfer components may include radio waves,microwaves, infrared waves, visible light waves, ultraviolet waves,x-rays, gamma rays, some combination thereof, etc. In this manner,signals may be transferred using signal transfer components even thoughthe signal transfer components may not be in physical contact and/orelectrical contact with one another.

In one embodiment, signals may be communicated through or using at leastone layer of apparatus 2250. For example, one or more layers (e.g.,2255, 2256, etc.) may include respective traces and/or wires forelectrically coupling one or more components (e.g., 2258, of apparatus2300 of FIG. 23, etc.). In one embodiment, a plurality of overlappinglayers (e.g., 2255, 2256, etc.) may include traces and/or wires (e.g.,where the respective traces and/or wires may or may not overlap or comeinto contact with one another) allowing respective signals to becommunicated through each layer and/or from one layer to another. In oneembodiment, the traces and/or wires may be created after manufacture ofat least one layer (e.g., etching a trench and physically inserting thetraces and/or wires in the at least one layer, etching a copper layer orother metal layer to form traces, etc.), formed integrally with the atleast one layer (e.g., the material forming the at least one layer maybe formed or molded around the traces and/or wires), etc.

In one embodiment, at least one trace may be formed using a conductivepolymer. The conductive polymer may be added to at least one layer(e.g., 2255, 2256, etc.) during or after manufacture, formed integrallywith at least one layer, etc. In one embodiment, the conductive polymerof one or more traces may be electrically isolated (e.g., using anon-conductive polymer or other material) from another trace and/orwire. And in one embodiment, other materials (e.g., a metal, anotherconductive material, etc.) may be used for the traces and/or wires.

In one embodiment, the traces and/or wires of one or more layers (e.g.,2255, 2256, etc.) may be used to communicate signals between at leastone signal transfer component and at least one other electricalcomponent. For example, where at least one component 2258 (e.g.,including circuitry) is disposed in cavity 2259 of apparatus 2250,signals may be communicated between at least one signal transfercomponent (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272, 2252, 2273, 2263, some combinationthereof, etc.) and at least one component 2258 via at least one layer(e.g., 2255, 2256, etc.) of apparatus 2250. In this case, the at leastone signal transfer component (e.g., 2261, 2251, 2272, 2252, 2273, 2263,some combination thereof, etc.) may be electrically coupled to tracesand/or wires of the at least one layer (e.g., 2255, 2256, etc.).

In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 2200 and/or apparatus 2250 mayslide or move with respect to one another (e.g., responsive to amovement, bending, twisting, change in shape, etc. of apparatus 2200and/or apparatus 2250). In one embodiment, layers of apparatus 2200and/or apparatus 2250 may be fixed or not move with respect to oneanother (e.g., responsive to a movement, bending, twisting, change inshape, etc. of apparatus 2200 and/or apparatus 2250).

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of apparatus 2300 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 23, apparatus 2300may include processor 2310, memory 2320, removable storage 2340,non-removable storage 2345, graphics processor 2350, frame buffer 2360,communication interface 2370, input component 2380, output component2390, configuration component 2392, monitoring component 2394,information determination component 2396, power source 2398, at leastone other component, some combination thereof, etc.

In one embodiment, apparatus 2300 may be a general-purpose computersystem, an embedded computer system, a laptop computer system, ahand-held computer system, a portable computer system and/or portableelectronic device, a stand-alone computer system, a computer systemwithin or associated with a vehicle or other type of apparatus, etc. Inone embodiment, apparatus 2300 may be used to implement one or moreportions of at least one other apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100,2200, etc.).

In one embodiment, one or more components (e.g., 2310, 2320, 2340, 2345,2350, 2360, 2370, 2380, 2390, 2392, 2394, 2396, 2398, etc.) of apparatus2300 may be disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with oneor more portions of at least one other apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b,100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900,2000, 2100, 2200, etc.). In one embodiment, one or more components(e.g., 2310, 2320, 2340, 2345, 2350, 2360, 2370, 2380, 2390, 2392, 2394,2396, 2398, etc.) of apparatus 2300 may be disposed in a cavity (e.g.,1480, 1780, 1782, 2259, etc.) of an apparatus (e.g., 1400, 1500, 1600,1700, 2200, etc.), where access to the one or more components (e.g.,2310, 2320, 2340, 2345, 2350, 2360, 2370, 2380, 2390, 2392, 2394, 2396,2398, etc.) may be gained by opening or removing a cover (e.g., 1492,1592, 1792, 1793, etc.) to the cavity (e.g., 1480, 1780, 1782, 2259,etc.). And in one embodiment, one or more components (e.g., 2310, 2320,2340, 2345, 2350, 2360, 2370, 2380, 2390, 2392, 2394, 2396, 2398, etc.)of apparatus 2300 may be, or be used to implement, at least onecomponent 2258 of FIG. 22.

As shown in FIG. 23, processor 2310 may be a central processing unit(CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microprocessor, another typeof processor, etc. Memory 2320 may be a volatile memory (e.g., RAM),non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM, flash memory, etc.), some combinationthereof, etc. Additionally, memory 2320 may be removable, non-removable,etc.

Apparatus 2300 may also include additional storage (e.g., removablestorage 2340, non-removable storage 2345, etc.). Removable storage 2340and/or non-removable storage 2345 may include volatile memory,non-volatile memory, some combination thereof, etc. Additionally,removable storage 2340 and/or non-removable storage 2345 may includeCD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD), other optical storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium which can be used to store information foraccess by one or more components of apparatus 2300.

In one embodiment, a memory of apparatus 2300 (e.g., memory 2320,removable storage 2340, non-removable storage 2345, etc.) may be acomputer-readable medium (or computer-usable medium, orcomputer-readable storage medium, etc.) and may include instructions forimplementing (e.g., responsive to an execution thereof by processor2310) a method of configuring an apparatus (e.g., in accordance withprocess 2700 of FIG. 27), some other method, etc. And in one embodiment,a memory of apparatus 2300 (e.g., memory 2320, removable storage 2340,non-removable storage 2345, etc.) may be implemented in and/or using atleast one die of at least one integrated circuit (e.g., at least oneapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), at least onesystem-on-a-chip (SOC), at least one programmable system-on-a-chip(PSOC), at least one programmable logic device (PLD), another type ofintegrated circuit, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 23, configuration component 2392 may be used toconfigure (e.g., determine, set, adjust, change, etc.) at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of at leastone apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200,1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.).Configuration of at least one component may be performed byconfiguration component 2392 in combination with processor 2310 and/orin combination with at least one other component of apparatus 2300 inone embodiment. In one embodiment, configuration of at least onecomponent may allow at least one property (e.g., bending stiffness orrigidity, torsional stiffness or rigidity, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, shape, etc.) of the at least one apparatus (e.g., 100 a,100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800,1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) to be determined, configured,adjusted, etc.

For example, configuration component 2392 may be used to set or change aposition (e.g., associated with or defined by a location, plane, axis,orientation, arrangement, pattern, etc.) of at least one component(e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) by activating orpowering a motor (e.g., of apparatus 1400, apparatus 1500, apparatus1600, apparatus 1800, etc.), a linear actuator, changing the state of aswitch, etc. As another example, configuration component 2392 may beused to set or change a pressure associated with at least one component(e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) by moving a piston(e.g., 1652) within the at least one component, changing the temperatureof the at least one component (e.g., by causing an electric current toflow through or around the at least one component, using a resistiveheating device, using a heat exchanger, using a thermoelectric cooler,using another device capable of transferring heat to the at least onecomponent, using another device capable of transferring heat from the atleast one component, some combination thereof, etc.), etc.

As another example, configuration component 2392 may be used to set orchange a temperature of at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b,1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) by causing an electric current to flow throughthe at least one component (e.g., including an SMA, MSMA, FSMA etc.), bycausing an electric current to flow around the at least one component,using a resistive heating device, using a heat exchanger, using athermoelectric cooler, using another device capable of transferring heatto the at least one component, using another device capable oftransferring heat from the at least one component, some combinationthereof, etc. And as yet another example, configuration component 2392may be used to set or change at least one property (e.g., strength,magnetic flux density, direction, location, shape, etc.) of a magneticfield applied to (e.g., through, across, in proximity to, etc.) at leastone component by activating and/or changing a state of one or moremagnets aligned with and/or disposed in proximity to: at least onecomponent (e.g., 1710) including a magnetorheological fluid (e.g.,1715); at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610,1710, etc.) including a MSMA or FSM; some combination thereof; etc.

At least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.)may be configured (e.g., determined, set, adjusted, changed, etc.) atone or more times. For example, at least one component of an apparatusmay be configured during manufacture, thereby allowing the apparatus tobe pre-configured by a manufacturer before use. As another example, atleast one component of an apparatus may be configured (e.g.,automatically and/or manually) before and/or after use. As yet anotherexample, at least one component of an apparatus may be configured (e.g.,automatically and/or manually) during use (e.g., dynamically or“on-the-fly”). The term “use” as used in these examples, or as otherwiseused herein, may involve a user being coupled with the apparatus (e.g.,while the apparatus is stationary or moving), a user standing on theapparatus (e.g., while the apparatus is stationary or moving), amovement of the apparatus (e.g., bending, flexing, twisting, movement ofthe apparatus with respect to another surface or object, etc.), somecombination thereof, etc.

As shown in FIG. 23, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor aconfiguration (e.g., defined by and/or associated with at least oneattribute and/or at least one value of at least one attribute) of atleast one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) ofat least one apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900,1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.).In one embodiment, monitoring of a configuration of at least onecomponent may be performed by monitoring component 2394 in combinationwith processor 2310 and/or in combination with at least one othercomponent of apparatus 2300.

For example, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor a position(e.g., associated with or defined by a location, plane, axis,orientation, arrangement, pattern, etc.) or change in position of atleast one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.).As another example, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor aposition of at least one other component of at least one apparatus(e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500,1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.), where the atleast one other component may include a shaft, a rotor, a stator, agear, an element (e.g., 240, 740 a, 740 b, 1440, 1740, etc.), a magnet(e.g., 1750, 1752, 1850, 1852, etc.), another component, somecombination thereof, etc.

As another example, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor apressure or change in pressure within at least one component (e.g., 210,710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.). In one embodiment, the pressureor change in pressure within the at least one component may be directlymeasured by monitoring component 2394. In one embodiment, the pressureor change in pressure within the at least one component may be measuredor determined by monitoring at least one attribute (e.g., a position, aninternal pressure, a temperature, a property of an applied magneticfield, some combination thereof, etc.) of another component associatedwith a pressure or change in pressure within at least one component. Forexample, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor the positionof a piston (e.g., 1652) used to set or change the pressure within atleast one component (e.g., 1610), the position or state (e.g.,associated with one or more attributes) of another component (e.g.,shaft 1650, component 1678, component 1679, shaft 1654, at least onerotor 1570, at least one stator 1572, at least one stator 1574, knob1560, etc.) associated with a pressure or change in pressure within theat least one component, etc.

As another example, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor atemperature or change in temperature associated with at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.). In oneembodiment, monitoring component 2394 may be used to directly measure atemperature or change in temperature of the at least one component oranother component (e.g., a resistive heating device, a heat exchanger, athermoelectric cooler, another device capable of transferring heat tothe at least one component, another device capable of transferring heatfrom the at least one component, some combination thereof, etc.) used toset or change the temperature of the at least one component. In oneembodiment, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor anotherproperty or attribute (e.g., of the at least one component) associatedwith a temperature or change in temperature of the at least onecomponent. For example, where temperature of the at least one componentis proportional to a current flowing through the at least one component(e.g., where the electric current is used to heat or otherwise changethe temperature of the at least one component), monitoring component2394 may monitor the temperature of the at least one component bymonitoring the current (or another electrical property or attribute suchas voltage, etc.) flowing through the at least one component.

As another example, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor amagnetic field applied to (e.g., through, across, in proximity to, etc.)at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710,etc.). In one embodiment, monitoring component 2394 may be used todirectly measure at least one property (e.g., strength, magnetic fluxdensity, direction, location, shape, etc.) of a magnetic field. In oneembodiment, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor at leastone attribute (e.g., a position, an internal pressure, a temperature, aproperty of an applied magnetic field, some combination thereof, etc.)of another component associated with at least one property of a magneticfield. For example, where at least one property (e.g., strength,magnetic flux density, direction, location, shape, etc.) of a magneticfield is a function of a position of a magnet (e.g., 1752), monitoringcomponent 2394 may monitor at least one property of the magnetic fieldby monitoring: the position of a magnet (e.g., 1750, 1752, 1850, 1852,etc.); a relative position of a plurality of magnets (e.g., 1750 and1752, 1850 and 1852, etc.); a relative position of a magnet (e.g., 1750,1752, 1850, 1852, etc.) and another object (e.g., electromagnet 1880,another component of an apparatus, etc.); etc.

Monitoring component 2394 may monitor at least one position using atleast one switch, at least one rotary encoder, at least one otherelectromechanical device, at least one inductive sensor, at least onecapacitive sensor, at least one other electrical position detectioncomponent, at least one optical position detection component, etc.Monitoring component 2394 may monitor or directly measure at least onepressure (e.g., inside and/or associated with at least one component,associated with another component or device, ambient pressure, etc.)using at least one manometer, at least one mechanical pressure gauge ormeasurement device, at least one pressure transducer, etc. Monitoringcomponent 2394 may monitor at least one temperature using at least onethermocouple, at least one thermistor, at least one ultrasonicthermometer, at least one infrared thermometer or pyrometer, at leastone laser thermometer or pyrometer, a current meter (e.g., wheretemperature of at least one component is a function of current throughthe at least one component), etc. Monitoring component 2394 may monitorone or more properties of a magnetic field (e.g., applied to at leastone component) using at least one magnetic field strength meter, atleast one magnetic flux density meter, at least one hall effect sensor,at least one single-axis magnetic field measurement component, at leastone multi-axis magnetic field measurement component, etc.

In one embodiment, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor atleast one attribute (e.g., at least one position, at least one pressure,at least one temperature, at least one property of an applied magneticfield, some combination thereof, etc.) of at least one apparatus (e.g.,100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700,1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.). For example, the position ofone portion of an apparatus with respect to at least one other portionof the apparatus may be measured or determined using monitoringcomponent 2394. As another example, an amount of bending, an amount oftorsional deformation, at least one vibration characteristic (e.g.,vibration damping, damping coefficient, at least one damped naturalfrequency, at least one undamped natural frequency, vibration frequencyresponse, etc.), the shape, etc. of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or atleast one vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) orat least one portion thereof may be measured or determined usingmonitoring component 2394.

In one embodiment, at least one attribute of an apparatus (or a vehicle,or at least one vehicle portion, including or implemented by theapparatus) may be measured or determined (e.g., by monitoring component2394) using at least one stress gauge, at least one strain gauge, atleast one optical detection component (e.g., able to detect an amount ofdeformation of the apparatus that can then be used to determine anamount of bending, torsional deformation, change in shape, etc.), atleast one vibration measurement component, etc. And in one embodiment,at least one attribute may be monitored using the same or similarcomponents or devices used to monitor at least one attribute (e.g., aposition, a pressure, a temperature, a property of an applied magneticfield, some combination thereof, etc.) of at least one component.

In one embodiment, monitoring component 2394 may be used to measure ordetermine at least one property (e.g., bending stiffness or rigidity,torsional stiffness or rigidity, vibration characteristic, shape, somecombination thereof, etc.) of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus). In oneembodiment, one or more properties (e.g., of the apparatus or at leastone portion thereof) may be determined based on at least one attributeof at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710,etc.) and/or at least one attribute of the apparatus. In this case, theat least one property of the apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) may bedetermined based on the relationship between at least one attribute(e.g., of the at least one component, of the apparatus, etc.) and the atleast one property. Accordingly, at least one property of an apparatus(or at least one portion thereof) may be advantageously determined usingone or more elements of the apparatus (e.g., without the use of separateequipment or machines), thereby allowing at least one property of anapparatus (or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including orimplemented by the apparatus) to be monitored or determined in one ormore conditions (e.g., when the apparatus is moving, when the apparatusis stationary, when the apparatus is in a remote location away fromequipment or machines that could otherwise be used to determine aproperty of the apparatus, etc.).

In one embodiment, monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor atleast one attribute (e.g., of at least one component and/or of at leastone apparatus) and/or at least one property (e.g., of at least onecomponent and/or of at least one apparatus) at one or more times. Inthis manner, at least one attribute and/or at least one property may bedetermined at a particular instant and/or tracked over time (e.g., usingmeasurements or samples taken at a plurality of times or instants).

In one embodiment, configuration component 2392 and/or monitoringcomponent 2394 (e.g., alone or in combination with processor 2310 and/orat least one other component of apparatus 2300) may be used to controlat least one component based on at least one attribute (e.g., associatedwith at least one component and/or at least one apparatus). For example,monitoring component 2394 may be used to monitor a first attribute orfirst plurality of attributes associated with at least one componentand/or at least one apparatus. Configuration component 2392 may be usedto adjust or control the at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) and/or at least one other component (e.g.,shaft 1450, at least one rotor 1470, at least one stator 1472, at leastone stator 1474, shaft 1550, coupler 1552, object 1578, object 1579,shaft 1554, at least one rotor 1570, at least one stator 1572, at leastone stator 1574, piston 1652, shaft 1650, object 1678, object 1679,shaft 1654, magnet 1750, magnet 1752, magnet 1850, magnet 1852, etc.) toimplement a second attribute or second plurality of attributes (e.g.,associated with the at least one component and/or at least oneapparatus). The adjustment performed by configuration component 2392 maybe based on feedback or information (e.g., associated with the firstattribute or first plurality of attributes) from monitoring component2394 in one embodiment. In this manner, a control system may beimplemented to regulate or otherwise control at least one attribute ofat least one component and/or at least one apparatus.

In one embodiment, a control system may be implemented (e.g., usingconfiguration component 2392, monitoring component 2394, processor 2310,at least one other component of apparatus 2300, etc.) to regulate orotherwise control at least one property (e.g., of an apparatus). Forexample, at least one property may be implemented (e.g., set, adjusted,controlled, regulated, etc.) by adjusting or controlling (e.g., usingconfiguration component 2394) at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a,710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) and/or at least one other component(e.g., shaft 1450, at least one rotor 1470, at least one stator 1472, atleast one stator 1474, shaft 1550, coupler 1552, object 1578, object1579, shaft 1554, at least one rotor 1570, at least one stator 1572, atleast one stator 1574, piston 1652, shaft 1650, object 1678, object1679, shaft 1654, magnet 1750, magnet 1752, magnet 1850, magnet 1852,etc.) to implement at least one attribute (e.g., associated with the atleast one component) associated with the at least one property (e.g., ofthe apparatus). In this manner, a control system may be implemented toregulate or otherwise control at least one property of an apparatusand/or at least one portion thereof (e.g., based on or using at leastone attribute associated with at least one component of the apparatus).

In one embodiment, a control system (e.g., implemented usingconfiguration component 2392, monitoring component 2394, processor 2310,at least one other component of apparatus 2300, some combinationthereof, etc.) may allow an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) to accountor adjust for changes in terrain. For example, vibration damping of aportion of the apparatus may be increased (e.g., to reduce vibrationexperienced by the apparatus, user of the apparatus, etc.) responsive todetecting or encountering rougher terrain, terrain that increasesvibrations induced in the apparatus, terrain that causes vibrations tobe transmitted through the apparatus, etc. As another example, thebending stiffness and/or the torsional stiffness of the apparatus may bedecreased (e.g., to increase the flexibility of the apparatus, freestylecapability of the apparatus, “pop” or spring of the apparatus, etc.)responsive to detecting or encountering a particular type of terrain(e.g., harder terrain, a park including jumps, a park including jibs,etc.). As yet another example, the bending stiffness and/or thetorsional stiffness of the apparatus may be increased (e.g., to increasemaneuverability of the apparatus, to allow the apparatus to ride higherwith less sag, etc.) responsive to detecting or encountering aparticular type of terrain (e.g., softer terrain, powder snow, etc.).

In one embodiment, a particular type of terrain and/or at least oneattribute of another object or surface (e.g., separate from theapparatus, that the apparatus moves along, that the apparatus contactsor interfaces with, etc.) may be detected by monitoring or measuring(e.g., using monitoring component 2394) at least one attribute of atleast one component and/or at least one apparatus (e.g., including theat least one component). In one embodiment, a particular type of terrainand/or at least one attribute of another object or surface (e.g.,separate from the apparatus, that the apparatus moves along, that theapparatus contacts or interfaces with, etc.) may be detected bymonitoring or measuring (e.g., using monitoring component 2394) at leastone property of at least one component and/or at least one apparatus(e.g., including the at least one component).

For example, harder terrain may be detected responsive to measuring lowdeformation or strain (e.g., of at least one component and/or at leastone apparatus), at least one vibration characteristic exceeding apredetermined threshold (e.g., going above a maximum threshold, goingbelow a minimum threshold, etc.), some combination thereof, etc. Asanother example, softer terrain may be detected responsive to measuringhigher deformation or strain (e.g., of at least one component and/or atleast one apparatus), at least one vibration characteristic exceeding apredetermined threshold (e.g., going above a maximum threshold, goingbelow a minimum threshold, etc.), some combination thereof, etc.

In one embodiment, a control system (e.g., implemented usingconfiguration component 2392, monitoring component 2394, processor 2310,at least one other component of apparatus 2300, some combinationthereof, etc.) may allow an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) to accountor adjust for changes in weather conditions. For example, where thetemperature of the apparatus affects at least one property of theapparatus, at least one attribute and/or at least one property of atleast one component (e.g., included in or associated with the at leastone apparatus) may be altered to regulate or otherwise adjust theproperties of the apparatus (e.g., to counteract the effects of a changein weather). As another example, where temperature can affect at leastone attribute and/or at least one property of at least one component(e.g., including an SMA, MSMA, FSMA, etc.), the temperature of the atleast one component may be regulated to implement or change at least oneattribute and/or at least one property of the at least one component(e.g., by adding heat to the at least one component to raise thetemperature responsive to a drop in ambient temperature, by removingheat from the at least one component to decrease the temperatureresponsive to an increase in ambient temperature, etc.).

In one embodiment, a control system (e.g., implemented usingconfiguration component 2392, monitoring component 2394, processor 2310,at least one other component of apparatus 2300, some combinationthereof, etc.) may allow an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at least onevehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) to accountor adjust for changes in riding style (e.g., how a user rides theapparatus). For example, where a user shifts his/her weight and/or putsmore pressure on a particular portion of the apparatus (e.g., due tofatigue, injury, etc.), at least one property of the apparatus (e.g., ofthe particular portion, of at least one other portion, etc.) may beadjusted (e.g., to counteract the effects of the change in ridingstyle). As another example, where a user begins to ride faster orslower, at least one property of the apparatus (e.g., of the particularportion, of another portion, etc.) may be adjusted (e.g., to counteractthe effects of the change in speed). As yet another example, where auser begins to ride more or less aggressively, at least one property ofthe apparatus (e.g., of the particular portion, of another portion,etc.) may be adjusted (e.g., to counteract the effects of the change inriding style).

FIG. 24 shows system 2400 including at least one configuration componentin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 24, apparatus 2300 may be communicatively coupled withconfiguration component 2410 (e.g., via interface 2415) and/orconfiguration component 2420 (e.g., via interface 2425). In oneembodiment, configuration component 2410 and/or configuration component2420 may generate control signals, where the control signals may becommunicated to apparatus 2300 (e.g., via interface 2415, interface2425, etc.) to configure, control, alter, etc. at least one propertyand/or at least one attribute of at least one component (e.g., 210, 710a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of apparatus 2300. Additionally, whereadjustment of at least one attribute of at least one component can beused to configure at least one property (e.g., resistance to bending,resistance to torsion, at least one vibration characteristic, shape,some combination thereof, etc.) of apparatus 2300, configurationcomponent 2410 and/or configuration component 2420 may be used toconfigure, control, alter, etc. at least one property of apparatus 2300(or a vehicle, or at least one vehicle portion, including or implementedby apparatus 2300).

Interface 2415 and/or interface 2425 may be or include a wired interfaceand/or a wireless interface. Interface 2415 and/or interface 2425 may beimplemented using or include at least one signal transfer component(e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.) in one embodiment.

In one embodiment, configuration component 2410 and/or configurationcomponent 2420 may be disposed remotely from (e.g., separate from, outof eyeshot from, out of earshot from, in a different area than, in adifferent state than, in a different nation than, etc.) apparatus 2300.In one embodiment, configuration component 2410 and/or configurationcomponent 2420 may be physically coupled with apparatus 2300. And in oneembodiment, configuration component 2410 and/or configuration component2420 may be physically coupled with apparatus 2300 via a cable or othercomponent used to implement a respective interface (e.g., 2415, 2425,etc.).

In one embodiment, configuration component 2410 and/or configurationcomponent 2420 may be automated or controlled by a system or device. Inone embodiment, configuration component 2410 and/or configurationcomponent 2420 may be controlled manually (e.g., by at least one user).For example, configuration component 2410 and/or configuration component2420 may include or be used to implement one or more user interfaces(e.g., 2500 of FIG. 25, 2600 of FIG. 26, etc.), where the one or moreuser interfaces allow at least one user to configure or control: atleast one attribute and/or at least one property of apparatus 2300; atleast one attribute and/or at least one property of at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of apparatus2300; etc.

Although FIG. 24 shows a particular number and arrangement of componentsor elements of system 2400, it should be appreciated that system 2400may include a different number and/or arrangement of components and/orelements in other embodiments. For example, two or more components maybe combined, a component may be split into a plurality ofsub-components, etc. As another example, system 2400 may include asmaller or larger number of configuration components (e.g., similar toconfiguration component 2410, configuration component 2420, etc.).

Turning back to FIG. 23, apparatus 2300 may communicate with othersystems, devices, components, etc. via communication interface 2370.Communication interface 2370 may embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal (e.g., a carrier wave) or other transport mechanism. By way ofexample, and not limitation, communication interface 2370 may couple towired media (e.g., a wired network, direct-wired connection, etc.)and/or wireless media (e.g., a wireless network, a wireless connectionutilizing acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, or other wirelesssignaling, etc.).

Communication interface 2370 may also couple apparatus 2300 to one ormore external input components (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball,a joystick, a pen, a voice input device, a touch input device, etc.). Inone embodiment, communication interface 2370 may couple apparatus 2300to one or more external output components (e.g., a display, a speaker, aprinter, etc.). And in one embodiment, communication interface 2370 mayinclude a plug, receptacle, cable, slot or any other component capableof coupling to and/or communicating with another component, device,system, etc.

In one embodiment, communication interface 2370 may be used tocommunicate with another system or device (e.g., configuration component2410, configuration component 2420, another system or device, etc.) thatis separate or disposed remotely from apparatus 2300. For example,communication interface 2370 may be used to communicate information ordata (e.g., as determined or monitored by monitoring component 2394)associated with one or more properties (e.g., bending stiffness orrigidity, torsional stiffness or rigidity, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, shape, some combination thereof, etc.) of at least oneapparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400,1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) to anothersystem or device (e.g., for processing and/or storage by the systemand/or device). As another example, communication interface 2370 may beused to communicate information or data (e.g., as determined ormonitored by monitoring component 2394) associated with at least oneattribute (e.g., a position, a pressure, a temperature, a property of anapplied magnetic field, some combination thereof, etc.) of at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) to anothersystem or device (e.g., for processing and/or storage by the systemand/or device). As yet another example, communication interface 2370 maybe used to communicate information or data (e.g., as determined ormonitored by monitoring component 2394) associated with at least oneattribute (e.g., an amount of bending, torsional deformation, at leastone measured vibration characteristic, vibration transmission, shape,etc.) of at least one apparatus to another system or device (e.g., forprocessing and/or storage by the system and/or device).

As a further example, communication interface 2370 may be used tocommunicate information (e.g., determined by or using informationdetermination component 2396) associated with at least one apparatus(e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500,1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) to another systemor device (e.g., configuration component 2410, configuration component2420, another system or device, etc.). In one embodiment, theinformation associated with the at least one apparatus may becommunicated for processing and/or storage by the system and/or device.The information (e.g., determined by or using information determinationcomponent 2396) may include a location of the at least one apparatus(e.g., determined or measured using a global positioning system (GPS),compass, etc.), a speed of the at least one apparatus (e.g., determinedor measured using at least one accelerometer), acceleration of the atleast one apparatus (e.g., determined or measured using at least oneaccelerometer), altitude of the at least one apparatus (e.g., determinedor measured using an altimeter), orientation and/or attitude of the atleast one apparatus (e.g., determined or measured using at least oneaccelerometer, at least one gyroscope, at least one ball-cage sensor orball-in-cage sensor, etc.), at least one attribute associated with acomponent of or in communication with the at least one apparatus (e.g.,a voltage or other attribute of the power source 2398, a functionalstate of another component, etc.), etc.

In one embodiment, communication interface 2370 may be used to access orreceive control signals. For example, a signal or communication fromanother system or device (e.g., configuration component 2410,configuration component 2420, another system or device, etc.) may bereceived (e.g., by or via communication interface 2370) and used tocontrol (e.g., using processor 2310, memory 2320, removable storage2340, non-removable storage 2345, configuration component 2392,monitoring component 2394, at least one other component of apparatus2300, etc.) a component of at least one apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b,100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900,2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.), at least one component in communicationwith (e.g., able to communicate with, electrically coupled to, etc.) theat least one apparatus, etc. In this manner, a system, device,component, etc. (e.g., that is separate or disposed remotely from the atleast one apparatus) may remotely control or alter (e.g., while the atleast one apparatus is stationary, while the at least one apparatus ismoving, before manufacturing, during manufacturing, after manufacturing,on-the-fly, etc.) at least one property and/or at least one attribute ofat least one component and/or at least one apparatus.

In one embodiment, communication interface 2370 (e.g., alone or inconjunction with one or more other components of apparatus 2300) mayallow a user (e.g., separate or located remotely from the at least oneapparatus, a user of the at least one apparatus, etc.) to remotelycontrol or alter (e.g., while the at least one apparatus is stationary,while the at least one apparatus is moving, before manufacturing, duringmanufacturing, after manufacturing, on-the-fly, etc.) at least oneproperty and/or at least one attribute of at least one component and/orat least one apparatus. In one embodiment, the remote control oralteration may be performed using configuration component 2410,configuration component 2420, another system or device, etc. Forexample, a coach or other user may remotely control or alter at leastone property and/or at least one attribute during practice, duringcompetition, etc., where the remote control or alteration may be used toassist the rider (e.g., of the apparatus), tune the apparatus (e.g.,during a trial run, during practice, before competition, duringcompetition, etc.), otherwise control performance of the apparatus, etc.

As another example, a technician or other user (e.g., associated withthe manufacturer of the apparatus) may remotely control or alter (e.g.,using configuration component 2410, configuration component 2420,another system or device, etc.) at least one property and/or at leastone attribute to advantageously evaluate or test one or moreconfigurations of the apparatus (e.g., before manufacturing, duringmanufacturing, after manufacturing, on-the-fly, etc.). As such, in oneembodiment, the time and/or expense of designing and/or manufacturing atleast one apparatus may be reduced by alleviating the need to collectdata (e.g., during development and/or testing of the apparatus) usingmultiple conventional vehicles (e.g., each with a different set ofproperties that cannot be changed or configured).

As shown in FIG. 23, input component 2380 may include any componentcapable of receiving or allowing the input of information. For example,input component 2380 may be or include a keyboard, at least one buttonor key, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, a pen, a voice input device, atouch input device (e.g., a touch screen, etc.), another type of inputcomponent, etc.

In one embodiment, input component 2380 may be or be used to implement auser interface (e.g., 2500 of FIG. 25, 2600 of FIG. 26, another userinterface, etc.) that allows a user to configure (e.g., at least oneproperty and/or at least one attribute) at least one component (e.g.,210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) and/or at least one apparatus(e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500,1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.). For example, theinput component 2380 may be coupled with (e.g., via a cable, mounted toor on, integrated into, etc.) a user's clothing or protective gear, auser's watch, a boot, a binding, a portion of the apparatus, etc., wherecontrol signals (e.g., generated responsive to a user interaction withinput component 2380 and/or at least one user interface implementedtherewith) may be communicated or passed from input component 2380 toanother component (e.g., configuration component 2392, processor 2310,etc.) via one or more signal transfer components (e.g., 2251, 2252,2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.). As another example, input component 2380may wirelessly communicate with communication interface 2370 in oneembodiment, where control signals (e.g., generated responsive to a userinteraction with input component 2380 and/or the user interfaceimplemented therewith) may be communicated or passed from inputcomponent 2380 to another component (e.g., configuration component 2392,processor 2310, etc.) via communication interface 2370.

FIG. 25 shows user interface 2500 in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. In one embodiment, user interface 2500 may beimplemented using input component 2380 of apparatus 2300. In oneembodiment, one or more regions of user interface 2500 may beimplemented using a graphical user interface displayed on a displaydevice (e.g., output component 2390) such as a cathode ray tube (CRT)display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED)display, organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, another type ofdisplay, etc. In this case, one or more users may interact with userinterface 2500 via a touch screen (e.g., disposed over or in proximityto one or more portions of the display device used to display thegraphical user interface), at least one physical button (e.g., separatefrom the display device), at least one physical key (e.g., separate fromthe display device), some combination thereof, etc. And in oneembodiment, elements of user interface 2500 may be implemented using akeyboard, at least one physical button or key, a mouse, a trackball, ajoystick, a pen, a voice input device, another type of input component,etc.

In one embodiment, user interface 2500 may allow a user to control orset at least one property of at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a,710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) and/or at least one apparatus (e.g., 100a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700,1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.). In one embodiment, userinterface 2500 may allow a user to control or set at least one attributeof at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710,etc.) and/or at least one apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d,200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100,2200, 2300, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 25, region 2510 of user interface 2500 may include aplurality of sub-regions (e.g., 2511, 2512, 2513, 2514, etc.), whereeach sub-region may be used to control or set a respective attribute orproperty of a first portion of at least one apparatus. For example,sub-region 2511 may be used to set or control bending stiffness,sub-region 2512 may be used to set or control torsional stiffness,sub-region 2513 may be used to set or control at least one vibrationcharacteristic (e.g., vibration damping, at least one dampingcoefficient, at least one damped natural frequency, at least oneundamped natural frequency, vibration frequency response, etc.),sub-region 2514 may be used to set or control torsional stiffness, etc.A value (e.g., represented or defined in terms of a number, range,percentage, level, description using at least one word, some combinationthereof, etc.) associated with a given property or attribute may beentered directly into a corresponding sub-region of region 2510 (e.g.,using a keyboard, at least one button or key, a mouse, a trackball, ajoystick, a pen, a voice input device, a touch input device such as atouch screen, input component 2380, another type of input component,etc.) in one embodiment. Alternatively, a value (e.g., represented ordefined in terms of a number, range, percentage, level, descriptionusing at least one word, some combination thereof, etc.) associated witha given property or attribute may be set or changed using the arrows oneither side of the sub-region (e.g., to increment or decrement the valueof the property or attribute).

Region 2520 of user interface 2500 may include a plurality ofsub-regions (e.g., 2521, 2522, 2523, 2524, etc.), where each sub-regionmay be used to control or set a respective attribute or property of asecond portion of at least one apparatus. For example, sub-region 2521may be used to set or control bending stiffness, sub-region 2522 may beused to set or control torsional stiffness, sub-region 2523 may be usedto set or control at least one vibration characteristic (e.g., vibrationdamping, at least one damping coefficient, at least one damped naturalfrequency, at least one undamped natural frequency, vibration frequencyresponse, etc.), sub-region 2524 may be used to set or control torsionalstiffness, etc. A value (e.g., represented or defined in terms of anumber, range, percentage, level, description using at least one word,some combination thereof, etc.) associated with a given property orattribute may be entered directly into a corresponding sub-region ofregion 2520 (e.g., using a keyboard, at least one button or key, amouse, a trackball, a joystick, a pen, a voice input device, a touchinput device such as a touch screen, input component 2380, another typeof input component, etc.) in one embodiment. Alternatively, a value(e.g., represented or defined in terms of a number, range, percentage,level, description using at least one word, some combination thereof,etc.) associated with a given property or attribute may be set orchanged using the arrows on either side of the sub-region (e.g., toincrement or decrement the value of the property or attribute).

In one embodiment, a particular region (e.g., 2510, 2520, etc.) of userinterface 2500 may correspond to a plurality of components (e.g., 210,710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.). In this case, the particularregion (e.g., 2510, 2520, etc.) may be used to control or configure atleast one attribute and/or at least one property of the plurality ofcomponents (e.g., to determine, configure, adjust, etc. one or moreproperties of an apparatus including the plurality of components). Andin one embodiment, a particular region (e.g., 2510, 2520, etc.) of userinterface 2500 may correspond to a single component (e.g., 210, 710 a,710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.). In this case, the particular region(e.g., 2510, 2520, etc.) may be used to control or configure at leastone attribute and/or at least one property of the single component(e.g., to determine, configure, adjust, etc. one or more properties ofan apparatus including the single component).

In one embodiment, at least one respective attribute (e.g., a position,an internal pressure, a temperature, a property of an applied magneticfield, some combination thereof, etc.) of a plurality of components(e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) may be determinedbased on at least one value (e.g., represented or defined in terms of anumber, range, percentage, level, description using at least one word,some combination thereof, etc.) input using user interface 2500. Forexample, a first set of attributes of a plurality of components may bedetermined based on at least one value (e.g., a bending stiffness of“2,” a torsional stiffness of “5,” at least one vibration characteristicof “7,” a shape of “rocker 20%,” some combination thereof, etc.) inputusing region 2510. It should be appreciated that the first set ofattributes may involve setting or configuring the plurality ofcomponents in different positions, with different internal pressures,different temperatures, different properties of an applied magneticfield, different properties (e.g., bending stiffness, torsionalstiffness, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.), etc. Asanother example, a second set of attributes of a plurality of componentsmay be determined based on at least one value (e.g., a bending stiffnessof “5,” a torsional stiffness of “3,” at least one vibrationcharacteristic of “6,” a shape of “flat,” some combination thereof,etc.) input using region 2520. It should be appreciated that the secondset of attributes may involve setting or configuring the plurality ofcomponents in different positions, with different internal pressures,different temperatures, different properties of an applied magneticfield, different properties (e.g., bending stiffness, torsionalstiffness, at least one vibration characteristic, shape, etc.), etc.Accordingly, where a plurality of components may collectively influenceone or more properties of a portion of an apparatus, at least onerespective attribute (e.g., a position, an internal pressure, atemperature, a property of an applied magnetic field, some combinationthereof, etc.) associated with each component of a plurality ofcomponents (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) may bedetermined, configured, adjusted, etc. based on one or more values inputusing user interface 2500.

As shown in FIG. 25, region 2530 may be used to present otherinformation and/or provide other functionality. For example, the time,date, weather, temperature, other information, some combination thereof,etc. may be presented using region 2530. As another example, region 2530may include elements (e.g., at least one physical button and/or at leastone physical key, at least one displayed icon or button, etc.) used tocontrol the rendering of content (e.g., direction of playback, skipping,pausing, muting, stopping, shuffling, navigation through a menu of auser interface or graphical user interface implemented using region2530, etc).

Although FIG. 25 shows user interface 2500 with a specific number andarrangement of regions, it should be appreciated that user interface2500 may have a different number and/or arrangement of regions in otherembodiments. For example, user interface 2500 may include at least oneadditional region associated with at least one other portion of theapparatus (e.g., associated with regions 2510 and 2520). As anotherexample, user interface 2500 may include a different number ofsub-regions (e.g., similar to sub-regions 2511, 2512, 2513, 2514, 2521,2522, 2523, 2524, etc.) for controlling or setting a different numberand/or type of properties or attributes. Additionally, although FIG. 25shows user interface 2500 with a specific size and shape of regions, itshould be appreciated that one or more regions of user interface 2500may have a different size and/or shape in other embodiments.

FIG. 26 shows user interface 2600 for configuring an apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, user interface 2600 may be implemented using input component2380 of apparatus 2300. In one embodiment, user interface 2600 may beimplemented using region 2530 of user interface 2500.

In one embodiment, one or more regions of user interface 2600 may beimplemented using a graphical user interface displayed on a displaydevice (e.g., output component 2390) such as a cathode ray tube (CRT)display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED)display, organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, another type ofdisplay, etc. In this case, one or more users may interact with userinterface 2600 via a touch screen (e.g., disposed over or in proximityto one or more portions of the display device used to display thegraphical user interface), at least one physical button (e.g., separatefrom the display device), at least one physical key (e.g., separate fromthe display device), some combination thereof, etc. And in oneembodiment, elements of user interface 2600 may be implemented using akeyboard, at least one physical button or key, a mouse, a trackball, ajoystick, a pen, a voice input device, another type of input component,etc.

As shown in FIG. 26, element or region 2610 may be associated withand/or used to select a first configuration of an apparatus (e.g., 100a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700,1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) associated with a first typeof apparatus (e.g., an apparatus configured for freestyle or parkriding, an apparatus configured for harder terrain, etc.). Element orregion 2620 may be associated with and/or used to select a secondconfiguration of the apparatus associated with a second type ofapparatus (e.g., an apparatus configured for all-mountain riding, anapparatus configured for freestyle riding and riding in powder, etc.).Element or region 2630 may be associated with and/or used to select athird configuration of the apparatus associated with a third type ofapparatus (e.g., an apparatus configured for riding in powder, anapparatus configured for loose snow or softer terrain, etc.).

Each of the configurations (e.g., the first configuration, the secondconfiguration, the third configuration, etc.) may be associated with atleast one respective attribute (e.g., a position, a pressure, atemperature, a property of an applied magnetic field, some combinationthereof, etc.) and/or at least one respective property (e.g., resistanceto bending, resistance to torsion, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, shape, some combination thereof, etc.). For example, thefirst configuration (e.g., associated with or selected using element orregion 2610) may be associated with a first attribute or first set ofattributes of at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410,1610, 1710, etc.) used to implement a first property or first set ofproperties of the apparatus, whereas the second configuration (e.g.,associated with or selected using element or region 2620) may beassociated with a second attribute or second set of attributes of atleast one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.)used to implement a second property or second set of properties of theapparatus. In this manner, an apparatus (or at least one portionthereof) may be easily and efficiently configured (e.g., withoutrequiring knowledge of the at least one component, of any attributesassociated with the at least one component, any properties associatedwith the apparatus, how the configuration of the apparatus is actuallycarried out, etc.) to implement one type of a plurality of types ofapparatuses using user interface 2600.

In one embodiment, user interface 2600 may be or include a slider, whereeach element or region (e.g., 2610, 2620, 2630, etc.) may be a differentposition of the slider. As such, a user may change the type of apparatusby simply moving the slider from one position to another.

Although FIG. 26 shows user interface 2600 with a specific number andarrangement of regions, it should be appreciated that user interface2600 may have a different number and/or arrangement of regions in otherembodiments. Additionally, although FIG. 26 shows user interface 2600with a specific size and shape of regions, it should be appreciated thatone or more regions of user interface 2600 may have a different sizeand/or shape in other embodiments.

Turning back to FIG. 23, output component 2390 may include any componentcapable of transmitting or allowing the output of information. Forexample, output component 2390 may be or include a display, a speaker, aprinter, another type of output component, etc.

In one embodiment, output component 2390 may be used to render orpresent content. The content (e.g., audio data, image data, video data,etc.) may be stored on a memory of apparatus 2300 (e.g., memory 2320,removable storage 2340, non-removable storage 2345, frame buffer 2360,etc.), stored on a memory of another system or device (e.g., allowingone or more components of apparatus 2300 to access the content viacommunication interface 2370), some combination thereof, etc. Inputcomponent 2380 may be used to implement a user interface allowing a userto control the rendering (e.g., playback in a forward direction, reverseplayback, skip, pause, mute, stop, shuffle, navigation through a menu,etc.) of the content. In one embodiment, the user interface (e.g.,allowing a user to control the rendering of content) may be implementedusing region 2530 of user interface 2500 (e.g., displayed in region2530, implemented using at least one physical button and/or at least onephysical key of region 2530, implemented using at least one icon orbutton displayed in region 2530, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 23, graphics processor 2350 may perform graphicsprocessing operations on data stored in frame buffer 2360 or anothermemory (e.g., 2320, 2340, 2345, etc.) of apparatus 2300. Data stored inframe buffer 2360 may be accessed, processed, and/or modified bycomponents (e.g., graphics processor 2350, processor 2310, somecombination thereof, etc.) of apparatus 2300 and/or components of othersystems, other devices, etc. Additionally, in one embodiment, the datamay be processed (e.g., by graphics processor 2350) to generate otherdata or content, where the other data or content may be communicated fordisplay and/or displayed (e.g., using output component 2390, an outputcomponent of another system or device, etc.).

In one embodiment, the content may be communicated using at least onesignal transfer component (e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273,some combination thereof, etc.). In one embodiment, the content may beaccessed and/or processed using processor 2310. And in one embodiment,the content may be accessed and/or processed using at least one othercomponent of apparatus 2300 (e.g., configuration component 2392,monitoring component 2394, information determination component 2396,etc.).

As shown in FIG. 23, power source 2398 may include any component capableof storing and/or producing energy. For example, power source 2398 mayinclude at least one battery, at least one capacitor, at least oneultracapacitor, at least one solar cell, some combination thereof, etc.An energy storage component (e.g., at least one battery, at least onecapacitor, at least one ultracapacitor, etc.) of power source 2398 maybe charged by an external charger (e.g., coupled via at least one signaltransfer component of FIG. 22, by a plug or jack, etc.), by an energyproducing component (e.g., a solar cell) of power source 2398 responsiveto exposure to sunlight or other light, etc.

In one embodiment, one or more components of apparatus 2300 may beseparated from, disposed remotely from, not physically coupled to, etc.one or more other components of apparatus 2300. For example, at leastone component (e.g., 2310, 2320, 2340, 2345, 2350, 2360, 2370, 2380,2390, 2392, 2394, 2396, 2398, some combination thereof, etc.) ofapparatus 2300 may be coupled with and/or at least partially disposed inanother object (e.g., a binding, a boot, a user's clothing or protectivegear, a user's watch, another object, etc.) that is separated from,disposed remotely from, not physically coupled to, etc. one or moreother components of apparatus 2300. The at least one component may beelectrically coupled and/or communicatively coupled to the one or moreother components (e.g., via at least one signal transfer component ofFIG. 22, at least one wire, at least one trace, communication interface2370, etc.). Additionally, in one embodiment, the electrical couplingand/or communicative coupling between the at least one component and theone or more other components may be gated or switched (e.g., allowingthe at least one component and the one or more other components to bedecoupled, selectively decoupled, etc.).

In one embodiment, power source 2398 may be may be coupled with and/orat least partially disposed in another object (e.g., a binding, a boot,a user's clothing or protective gear, a user's watch, another object,etc.), yet able to be electrically coupled to at least one othercomponent of apparatus 2300 to provide power to the at least one othercomponent and/or receive power from the at least one other component. Inthis manner, the energy storage capacity of apparatus 2300 can beexpanded without increasing the size, weight, etc. of the apparatus toaccommodate the at least one additional component (e.g., at least onebattery, at least one capacitor, at least one ultracapacitor, somecombination thereof, etc.) of power source 2398.

For example, use of an external power source (e.g., to provide power toor from at least one other component of the apparatus) can reduce thesize of the apparatus (e.g., since the apparatus need not be sized toinclude the external power source within a cavity, housing, outer layer,body, etc. of the apparatus), the weight of the apparatus (e.g., sincethe weight of the apparatus may not include the weight of the externalpower source), etc. Additionally, use of an external power source (e.g.,to provide power to or from at least one other component of theapparatus) can provide additional advantages such as allowing the energystorage capacity of the apparatus to be expanded and/or customized(e.g., to be different from the energy storage capacity determined orsuggested by the manufacturer of the apparatus), allowing easier andmore efficient replacement of the power source, etc.

In one embodiment, one or more signal transfer components (e.g., 2251,2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.) may act as a switch to couple two ormore components (e.g., 2310, 2320, 2340, 2345, 2350, 2360, 2370, 2380,2390, 2392, 2394, 2396, 2398, etc.) of apparatus 2300. The two or morecomponents of apparatus 2300 may be coupled with and/or at leastpartially disposed in the same object (e.g., at least one layer orhousing of the apparatus, at least one cavity of the apparatus, abinding, a boot, a user's clothing or protective gear, a user's watch,another object, etc.), coupled with and/or at least partially disposedin different objects, etc. For example, at least one signal transfercomponent of a first object (e.g., the apparatus, a binding, a boot, auser's clothing or protective gear, a user's watch, another object,etc.) may short or act as a jumper between contacts of at least onesignal transfer component of a second object (e.g., the apparatus, abinding, a boot, a user's clothing or protective gear, a user's watch,another object, etc.), thereby allowing two or more components ofapparatus 2300 to be electrically coupled and/or communicatively coupledvia the at least one signal transfer component of the first object. Asanother example, a first object may include a first plurality of signaltransfer components that are electrically coupled and/or communicativelycoupled to one another, where the first plurality of signal transfercomponents may electrically couple and/or communicatively couple two ormore components of the apparatus (e.g., that are electrically coupledand/or communicatively coupled to a second plurality of signal transfercomponents of a second object) responsive to the first plurality ofsignal transfer components being positioned (e.g., brought into contact,proximity, alignment, etc.) with respect to the second plurality ofsignal transfer components (e.g., where the first object acts as aconductive and/or communicative path for the two or more components ofthe apparatus).

The one or more signal transfer components (e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261,2263, 2272, 2273, etc.) may be used to deactivate a component (e.g., viapower gating, clock gating, etc.) and/or activate a component (e.g., byconnecting a power source to the component, by providing a clock signalto the component, by providing a data signal to the component, etc.) inone embodiment. In one embodiment, the one or more signal transfercomponents (e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.) may be usedto couple at least one component (e.g., a memory device storing secureinformation or content, another component, etc.) to at least one othercomponent of apparatus 2300. And in one embodiment, the one or moresignal transfer components (e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273,etc.) may be used to allow communication between two or more components(e.g., that are decoupled or otherwise restricted from communicatingwhen the switch is in a particular state) of apparatus 2300, of anothersystem or device, some combination thereof, etc.

Accordingly, using one or more signal transfer components (e.g., 2251,2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.) as a switch to couple two or morecomponents of apparatus 2300 may provide one or more advantages. Forexample, where at least one signal transfer component (e.g., disposed atleast partially within and/or coupled with the apparatus) and at leastone other signal transfer component (e.g., disposed at least partiallywithin and/or coupled with the user, disposed at least partially withinand/or coupled with a user's clothing, disposed at least partiallywithin and/or coupled with a user's boot, disposed at least partiallywithin and/or coupled with a user's watch, etc.) are used as a switchfor one or more components of apparatus 2300, the one or more componentsmay be automatically powered or activated (e.g., responsive to the userstepping on the apparatus, responsive to the user being secured to theapparatus, etc.) without requiring the user to flip a switch orotherwise manually power or activate the one or more components.Additionally, the cost of the system may be reduced and/or reliabilityof the system may be increased by reducing the number of components(e.g., alleviating the need for a power switch by configuring at leastone signal transfer component to act as a switch). As another example,power may be conserved or saved by automatically disconnecting the powerto and/or deactivating the one or more components of apparatus 2300(e.g., responsive to the user stepping off the apparatus, responsive tothe user no longer being secured to the apparatus, responsive to a pauseor cessation in use of the apparatus, etc.).

In one embodiment, the one or more signal transfer components (e.g.,2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.) may act as a switch to limitaccess to secure information or content. For example, where access to amemory (e.g., 2320, 2340, 2345, etc.) storing the secure information orcontent is provided by the one or more signal transfer components,access to the secure information or content may be limited or prohibitedby the one or more signal transfer components (e.g., responsive to theuser stepping off the apparatus, responsive to the user no longer beingsecured to the apparatus, responsive to a pause or cessation in use ofthe apparatus, etc.).

In one embodiment, only an authorized user may be able to change thestate of the switch (e.g., implemented by the one or more signaltransfer components) to allow access to the secure information orcontent. For example, where at least one signal transfer component(e.g., 2252, 2263, disposed at least partially within and/or coupledwith the apparatus, etc.) and at least one other signal transfercomponent (e.g., 2272, 2273, disposed at least partially within and/orcoupled with the user, disposed at least partially within and/or coupledwith a user's boot, disposed at least partially within and/or coupledwith a user's clothing, disposed at least partially within and/orcoupled with a user's watch, etc.) are used to reduce unauthorizedaccess to information or content, at least one attribute (e.g., theposition, type, configuration, etc.) of the at least one other signaltransfer component (e.g., 2272, 2273, disposed at least partially withinand/or coupled with the user, disposed at least partially within and/orcoupled with a user's boot, disposed at least partially within and/orcoupled with a user's clothing, disposed at least partially withinand/or coupled with a user's watch, etc.) may be unique to theauthorized user and/or may act as a key to reduce unauthorized access(e.g., by another user, by an unauthorized user, etc.) to theinformation or content. As such, since at least one attribute of atleast one signal transfer component associated with an unauthorized usermay be different from the at least one attribute of the at least oneother signal transfer component associated with the authorized user, theat least one signal transfer component associated with the unauthorizeduser may be unable to provide access to the information or content.

In one embodiment, security of information or content may be increasedusing other authorization or verification mechanisms. For example, adevice (e.g., disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with theuser, disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with a user'sboot, disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with a user'sclothing, disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with auser's watch, etc.) may be used to verify or authenticate a user over awired and/or wireless interface. The wired and/or wireless interface maybe implemented using one or more signal transfer components (e.g., 2251,2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.), using communication interface 2273and a corresponding communication interface of the other device (e.g.,disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with the user,disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with a user's boot,disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with a user'sclothing, disposed at least partially within and/or coupled with auser's watch, etc.), etc.

In one embodiment, an external memory (e.g., 2320, 2340, 2345, etc.) maybe used to increase the security of information or content. For example,where the external memory (e.g., 2320, 2340, 2345, etc.) is coupled withand/or at least partially disposed in an object of the user (e.g., aboot, clothing or protective gear, a user's watch, another object of theuser or carried by the user, etc.), unauthorized access to theinformation or content may be reduced as the external memory (e.g.,2320, 2340, 2345, etc.) may be carried with the user (e.g., away fromthe apparatus).

In one embodiment, the external memory may communicate with one or morecomponents of apparatus 2300 via an interface implemented using one ormore signal transfer components (e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272,2273, etc.), communication interface 2273, etc. In this manner, one ormore signal transfer components (e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272,2273, etc.) and/or communication interface 2273 may be used to reduceunauthorized access to information or content stored on the externalmemory.

Accordingly, security of information, content, other data, etc. may beincreased. Additionally, in one embodiment, one or more of the securitymechanisms discussed herein may allow the implementation of digitalrights management (DRM).

In one embodiment, a proximity switch (e.g., a capacitive switch,inductive switch, etc.) may be utilized by or included in at least oneapparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400,1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.), anotherobject (e.g., 2060, 2160, 2260, 2270, etc.), etc. The switch may be usedto deactivate a component (e.g., via power gating or by disconnectingpower source 2398 from the component, via clock gating, etc.), activatea component (e.g., by connecting power source 2398 to the component, byproviding a clock signal to the component, etc.), couple at least onecomponent (e.g., a memory storing secure information or content, anothercomponent, etc.) to at least one other component of the apparatus, allowcommunication between two or more components (e.g., that are decoupledor otherwise restricted from communicating when the switch is in anotherstate), etc.

In one embodiment, the state of the proximity switch (e.g., open,closed, etc.) may be changed responsive to a user (e.g., a user's foot,leg, another body part, etc.) being in proximity to the proximityswitch. In this manner, a user's presence may advantageously be used asa switch to couple (e.g., electrically, communicatively, etc.) and/ordecouple (e.g., electrically, communicatively, etc.) a plurality ofcomponents, thereby providing one or more advantages such asuser-friendliness and/or efficiency (e.g., by allowing the proximityswitch to be automatically triggered without requiring the user tomanually flip a switch), reduced cost and/or increased reliability,power savings and/or power conservation (e.g., by automaticallydisconnecting the power and/or deactivating at least one component ofapparatus when not in use, when a user is not present, etc.), increaseddata security (e.g., by disconnecting or otherwise increasing thesecurity of secure information or content when the apparatus is not inuse, when a user is not present at or near the apparatus, etc.), somecombination thereof, etc.

Although FIG. 22 shows components or elements of apparatus 2200 withparticular shapes and sizes, it should be appreciated that apparatus2200 may include components and/or elements of different shapes and/orsizes in other embodiments. Additionally, although FIG. 22 shows aparticular number and arrangement of components or elements of apparatus2200, it should be appreciated that apparatus 2200 may include adifferent number and/or arrangement of components and/or elements inother embodiments.

Although FIG. 23 shows a particular number and arrangement of componentsor elements of apparatus 2300, it should be appreciated that apparatus2300 may include a different number and/or arrangement of componentsand/or elements in other embodiments. For example, two or morecomponents may be combined, a component may be split into a plurality ofsub-components, etc.

FIG. 27 shows a flowchart of process 2700 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 27, step 2710involves initializing a user interface (e.g., 2500, 2600, another userinterface, etc.).

In one embodiment, a user interface may be initialized in step 2710 bydisplaying one or more images (e.g., where the user interface is agraphical user interface). In one embodiment, the one or more images maybe displayed on or using an output component (e.g., 2390) of anapparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400,1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.), an outputcomponent (e.g., similar to output component 2390) of another object(e.g., 2060, 2160, 2260, 2270, etc.), an output component (e.g., similarto output component 2390) in communication with at least one componentof an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200,1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.),another object (e.g., 2060, 2160, 2260, 2270, etc.), etc. And in oneembodiment, the one or more images may be displayed on or using anoutput component (e.g., similar to output component 2390) that iselectrically coupled to (or is capable of being electrically coupled to)at least one component of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100,2200, 2300, etc.), another object (e.g., 2060, 2160, 2260, 2270, etc.),etc. The electrical coupling (e.g., between the output component and theat least one component of an apparatus, between the output component andthe other object, etc.) may be via at least one signal transfercomponent (e.g., 2251, 2252, 2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.) in oneembodiment.

In one embodiment, a user interface may be initialized in step 2710 bysupplying at least one signal (e.g., at least one power signal, at leastone clock signal, at least one data signal, etc.) to the user interface.And in one embodiment, a user interface may be initialized in step 2710by performing at least one other operation to prepare the user interfaceto accept at least one user input.

The user interface initialized in step 2710 may be implemented using acomponent (e.g., input component 2380, output component 2390, somecombination thereof, etc.) of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c,100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000,2100, 2200, 2300, etc.), another object (e.g., 2060, 2160, 2260, 2270,etc.) in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the user interfaceinitialized in step 2710 may be implemented using at least oneconfiguration component (e.g., 2410, 2420, etc.) that is electricallycoupled to and/or in communication with at least one component (e.g., acommunication interface such as communication interface 2370, aprocessor such as processor 2310, etc.) of the apparatus (e.g., 100 a,100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800,1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 27, step 2720 involves accessing at least one userinput associated with a configuration of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800,1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.), another object (e.g., 2060, 2160,2260, 2270, etc.). The apparatus may be, or be used to implement, atleast one vehicle and/or or at least one vehicle portion in oneembodiment. In one embodiment, the configuration associated with the atleast one user input (e.g., accessed in step 2720) may be a desiredconfiguration or a configuration that is different from a currentconfiguration of the apparatus (e.g., as determined using monitoringcomponent 2394, information determination component 2396, somecombination thereof, etc.).

In one embodiment, the at least one user input may be accessed in step2720 via the user interface initialized in step 2710. In one embodiment,the at least one user input may be accessed in step 2720 from acomponent of the apparatus (e.g., input component 2380, anothercomponent, etc.), from another device or component (e.g., configurationcomponent 2410, configuration component 2420, another component, anotherdevice, another system, etc.), some combination thereof, etc. And in oneembodiment, the at least one user input may be at least one controlsignal communicated to and/or accessed at the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the configuration associated with the at least oneuser input (e.g., accessed in step 2720) may involve or be associatedwith at least one attribute (e.g., a position, a pressure, atemperature, a property of a magnetic field, a current, a voltage, somecombination thereof, etc.) associated with at least one component (e.g.,210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of the apparatus. Forexample, the at least one user input may be a selection of at least oneattribute (or at least one value thereof) associated with at least onecomponent (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of theapparatus. The at least one attribute may include at least two differenttypes of attributes associated with a plurality of components (e.g., atleast one position associated with a first component, at least onepressure associated with a second component, at least one temperatureassociated with a third component, etc.) in one embodiment. And in oneembodiment, the at least one attribute may include at least twodifferent types of attributes associated with the same component (e.g.,at least one position associated with a component, at least one pressureassociated with the component, at least one temperature associated withthe component, etc.).

In one embodiment, the at least one user input accessed in step 2720 maybe associated with a configuration that is selected using or isassociated with an element or region of a user interface. For example,the at least one user input may be associated with a first configurationthat is input (or selected) using and/or associated with a first elementor region (e.g., 2610) of a user interface (e.g., 2600). As anotherexample, the at least one user input may be associated with a secondconfiguration that is input (or selected) using and/or associated with asecond element or region (e.g., 2620) of a user interface (e.g., 2600).And as yet another example, the at least one user input may beassociated with a third configuration that is input (or selected) usingand/or associated with a third element or region (e.g., 2630) of a userinterface (e.g., 2600).

In one embodiment, the at least one user input accessed in step 2720 maybe associated with a type of apparatus that is selected using and/orassociated with an element or region of a user interface. For example,the at least one user input may be associated with a first type ofapparatus (e.g., an apparatus configured for freestyle or park riding,an apparatus configured for harder terrain, etc.) that is input (orselected) using and/or associated with a first element or region (e.g.,2610) of a user interface (e.g., 2600). As another example, the at leastone user input may be associated with a second type of apparatus (e.g.,an apparatus configured for all-mountain riding, an apparatus configuredfor freestyle riding and riding in powder, etc.) that is input (orselected) using and/or associated with a second element or region (e.g.,2620) of a user interface (e.g., 2600). And as yet another example, theat least one user input may be associated with a third type of apparatus(e.g., an apparatus configured for riding in powder, an apparatusconfigured for loose snow or softer terrain, etc.) that is input (orselected) using and/or associated with a third element or region (e.g.,2630) of a user interface (e.g., 2600).

In one embodiment, the at least one user input accessed in step 2720 maybe associated with at least one property (e.g., bending stiffness orrigidity, torsional stiffness or rigidity, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, shape, etc.) of an apparatus (or a vehicle, or at leastone vehicle portion, including or implemented by the apparatus) or aportion thereof. For example, the at least one user input may beassociated with a first property or first set of properties that isinput (or selected) using and/or associated with a first element orregion (e.g., 2510, 2511, 2512, 2513, 1514, etc.) of a user interface(e.g., 2500). As another example, the at least one user input may beassociated with a second property or second set of properties that isinput (or selected) using and/or associated with a second element orregion (e.g., 2520, 2521, 2522, 2523, 1524, etc.) of a user interface(e.g., 2500).

As shown in FIG. 27, step 2730 involves determining, based on the atleast one user input (e.g., accessed in step 2720), at least oneattribute associated with at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of the apparatus. In one embodiment, step2730 may be performed by processor 2310 (e.g., alone or in combinationwith at least one other component of apparatus 2300). The at least oneattribute may include or be at least one position, at least onepressure, at least one temperature, at least one property of a magneticfield (e.g., applied through, across, in proximity to, etc. the at leastone component), a current (e.g., flowing through the at least onecomponent), a voltage (e.g., of or measured at the at least onecomponent), at least one other attribute (e.g., a duty cycle or anotherproperty of a pulse-width modulated signal of or measured at the atleast one component), some combination thereof, etc.

In one embodiment, the at least one attribute may be determined in step2730 by indexing at least one data structure based on the user input todetermine the at least one attribute. For example, where the at leastone user input is associated with a configuration and/or type of anapparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400,1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.), a firstdata structure (e.g., 2800 of FIG. 28) may be accessed using theconfiguration and/or type of the apparatus to determine at least oneattribute (e.g., a position, a pressure, a temperature, a property of amagnetic field, a current, a voltage, at least one other attribute, somecombination thereof, etc.) associated with at least one component (e.g.,210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of the apparatus. As anotherexample, where the at least one user input is associated with at leastone value of at least one property (e.g., bending stiffness or rigidity,torsional stiffness or rigidity, at least one vibration characteristic,shape, etc.) of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200,700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200,2300, etc.), a second data structure (e.g., 2900 of FIG. 29) may beaccessed using the at least one value of the at least one property todetermine at least one attribute (e.g., a position, a pressure, atemperature, a property of a magnetic field, a current, a voltage, somecombination thereof, etc.) associated with at least one component (e.g.,210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of the apparatus.

FIG. 28 shows data structure 2800 in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. Data structure 2800 may be or include at leastone linear data structure, at least one array, at least one table, atleast one lookup table, at least one list, at least one tree, at leastone hash, at least one graph, at least one other type of data structure,etc. Data structure 2800 may be stored in a memory (e.g., 2320, 2340,2345, etc.) of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700,900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300,etc.), a memory coupled to or in communication with at least onecomponent of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700,900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300,etc.), a memory of another system or device, some combination thereof,etc.

In one embodiment, data structure 2800 may include an index ofconfigurations (e.g., of an apparatus or at least one portion of anapparatus) and attributes (e.g., associated with at least one componentof the apparatus or at least one portion of the apparatus). For example,configuration 1 (e.g., of column 2810) may be associated with (ordefined by, implemented by, etc.) position 1 of component 1, pressure 1of component 2, temperature 1 of component 3, magnetic field property 1of component 4, current 1 of component 5, voltage 1 of component 6, somecombination thereof, etc. As another example, configuration 2 (e.g., ofcolumn 2820) may be defined by or associated with position 2 ofcomponent 1, pressure 2 of component 2, temperature 2 of component 3,magnetic field property 2 of component 4, current 2 of component 5,voltage 2 of component 6, some combination thereof, etc. As yet anotherexample, configuration 3 (e.g., of column 2830) may be defined by orassociated with position 3 of component 1, pressure 3 of component 2,temperature 3 of component 3, magnetic field property 3 of component 4,current 3 of component 5, voltage 3 of component 6, some combinationthereof, etc.

Accordingly, data structure 2800 may be indexed or accessed (e.g., byprocessor 2310, by another component of apparatus 2300, etc.) using aconfiguration (e.g., configuration 1 of column 2810, configuration 2 ofcolumn 2820, configuration 3 of column 2830, etc.) of an apparatus (orat least one portion thereof) to determine (e.g., in accordance with, oras part of, step 2730 of FIG. 27) at least one respective attribute(e.g., a position, a pressure, a temperature, a property of a magneticfield, a current, a voltage, some combination thereof, etc.) associatedwith each component of at least one component (e.g., component 1,component 2, component 3, component 4, component 5, component 6, anothercomponent, some combination thereof, etc.). In one embodiment, whereeach configuration (e.g., configuration 1 of column 2810, configuration2 of column 2820, configuration 3 of column 2830, etc.) is associatedwith a type of apparatus (e.g., an apparatus configured for freestyle orpark riding, an apparatus configured for harder terrain, an apparatusconfigured for all-mountain riding, an apparatus configured forfreestyle riding and riding in powder, an apparatus configured forriding in powder or loose snow, an apparatus configured for softerterrain, another type of apparatus, etc.), data structure 2800 may beindexed or accessed using a type of apparatus (e.g., a first type ofapparatus associated with configuration 1 of column 2810, a second typeof apparatus associated with configuration 2 of column 2820, a thirdtype of apparatus associated with configuration 3 of column 2830, etc.)to determine (e.g., in accordance with, or as part of, step 2730 of FIG.27) at least one respective attribute (e.g., a position, a pressure, atemperature, a property of a magnetic field, a current, a voltage, somecombination thereof, etc.) associated with each component of at leastone component (e.g., component 1, component 2, component 3, component 4,component 5, component 6, another component, some combination thereof,etc.).

In one embodiment, data structure 2800 may be used to determine at leastone attribute based on a user input (e.g., to a user interface oraccessed via a user interface). For example, where each element orregion (e.g., 2610, 2620, 2630, etc.) of a user interface (e.g., 2600)is associated with a respective configuration (e.g., configuration 1 ofcolumn 2810, configuration 2 of column 2820, configuration 3 of column2830, etc.) of an apparatus (or at least one portion thereof), datastructure 2800 may be indexed or accessed using at least oneconfiguration (e.g., associated with the user input, associated with oneor more element or regions of the user input, determined based on theuser input, selected as part of the user input, etc.) to determine(e.g., in accordance with, or as part of, step 2730 of FIG. 27) at leastone attribute associated with one or more components. As anotherexample, where each element or region (e.g., 2610, 2620, 2630, etc.) ofa user interface (e.g., 2600) is associated with a respective type ofapparatus, data structure 2800 may be indexed or accessed using at leastone type of apparatus (e.g., associated with the user input, associatedwith one or more element or regions of the user input, determined basedon the user input, selected as part of the user input, etc.) todetermine (e.g., in accordance with, or as part of, step 2730 of FIG.27) at least one attribute associated with one or more components.

In one embodiment, data structure 2800 may be stored in a memory that isselectively coupled to or capable of being decoupled from at least onecomponent of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700,900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300,etc.). For example, data structure 2800 may be stored in a memory (e.g.,2320, 2340, 2345, etc.) where access to the memory is controlled orswitched using one or more signal transfer components (e.g., 2251, 2252,2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.). In this manner, the ability to configurean apparatus (e.g., in accordance with one or more steps of process2700) may be reduced or limited (e.g., to authorized users of theapparatus) by using a switch or other mechanism to selectively couple amemory (e.g., including data structure 2800) to at least one othercomponent of the apparatus (e.g., processor 2310, another component ofapparatus 2300, etc.).

Each component (e.g., component 1, component 2, component 3, component4, component 5, component 6, etc.) depicted in FIG. 28 may be or includeat least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.)of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200,1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) in oneembodiment. In one embodiment, at least one component depicted in FIG.28 may be included in or part of the same portion of an apparatus as atleast one other component depicted in FIG. 28. And in one embodiment, atleast one component depicted in FIG. 28 may be included in or part of atleast one different portion of an apparatus from at least one othercomponent depicted in FIG. 28.

Although FIG. 28 shows data structure 2800 with a specific amount andtype of data, it should be appreciated that data structure 2800 mayinclude a different amount and/or type of data in other embodiments. Forexample, more than one component may be associated with the sameattribute (e.g., a plurality of components of data structure 2800 may beassociated with positions, a plurality of components of data structure2800 may be associated with pressures, etc.). As another example, aparticular component (e.g., component 1, component 2, component 3,component 4, component 5, component 6, etc.) may be associated with aplurality of different types of attributes (e.g., configuration 1 may beassociated with position 1 of component 1 and a pressure of component 1,etc.). And as yet another example, in other embodiments, data structure2800 may include data associated with a different number of components,a different number of configurations, a different number of attributes,some combination thereof, etc. Although the data of data structure 2800is depicted in FIG. 28 in one or more specific forms, it should beappreciated that the data of data structure 2800 may be expressed inother forms (e.g., as at least one number, as at least one range, as atleast one percentage, as at least one level, using at least one word,other forms, etc.) in other embodiments.

FIG. 29 shows data structure 2900 in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention. Data structure 2900 may be or include at leastone linear data structure, at least one array, at least one table, atleast one lookup table, at least one list, at least one tree, at leastone hash, at least one graph, at least one other type of data structure,etc. Data structure 2900 may be stored in a memory (e.g., 2320, 2340,2345, etc.) of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700,900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300,etc.), a memory coupled to or in communication with at least onecomponent of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700,900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300,etc.), a memory of another system or device, some combination thereof,etc.

In one embodiment, data structure 2900 may include an index ofattributes (e.g., associated with at least one component) and values ofproperties (e.g., of an apparatus). For example, each row of datastructure 2900 may include values of a respective property (e.g.,bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, shape, etc.) implemented by different attributes (e.g.,attribute 1, attribute 2, attribute 3, attribute 4, etc.) associatedwith at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710,etc.). As such, data structure 2900 may indicate (or include) anassociation (or relationship) between an attribute (e.g., attribute 1,attribute 2, attribute 3, attribute 4, etc.) associated with at leastone component (e.g., 210, 710 a, 710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) and atleast one value of at least one property (e.g., listed in column 2930)of an apparatus (e.g., 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400,1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, etc.).

In one embodiment, at least two columns (e.g., 2940, 2950, 2960, 2970,etc.) of data structure 2900 may include different values of the sameattribute. For example, column 2940 may be associated with a firstposition, whereas column 2950 may be associated with a second position.And in one embodiment, at least two columns (e.g., 2940, 2950, 2960,2970, etc.) of data structure 2900 may include different types ofattributes. For example, column 2940 may be associated with a position,whereas column 2950 may be associated with a pressure.

In one embodiment, rows 2910 may be associated with a first component orfirst set of components, whereas rows 2920 may be associated with asecond component or second set of components. In one embodiment, thefirst component or first set of components may be in the same portion ofthe apparatus as the second component or second set of components. Inone embodiment, the first component or first set of components may be inat least one different portion of the apparatus than the secondcomponent or second set of components.

As such, data structure 2900 may indicate (or include) an association(or relationship) between an attribute (or set of attributes) and atleast one respective value of at least one respective property (e.g., ofan apparatus) imparted by or associated with each component of aplurality of components (e.g., associated with rows 2910, 2920, etc.).For example, attribute 2 (e.g., of column 2950) may be associated with afirst property value or first set of property values (e.g., from rows2910 such as a bending stiffness of “2,” a torsional stiffness of “5,”at least one vibration characteristic of “7,” a shape of “rocker 20%,”some combination thereof, etc.) imparted by or associated with a firstcomponent of the apparatus. Attribute 2 (e.g., of column 2950) may alsobe associated with a second property value or second set of propertyvalues (e.g., from rows 2920 such as a bending stiffness of “3,” atorsional stiffness of “4,” at least one vibration characteristic of“2,” a shape of “small curve,” some combination thereof, etc.) impartedby or associated with a second component of the apparatus.

Accordingly, data structure 2900 may be indexed or accessed (e.g., byprocessor 2310, by another component of apparatus 2300, etc.) using atleast one value of at least one property (e.g., at least one bendingstiffness, at least one torsional stiffness, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, at least one shape, etc.) associated with at least onecomponent (e.g., the component associated with rows 2910, the componentassociated with rows 2920, etc.) to determine (e.g., in accordance with,or as part of, step 2730 of FIG. 27) at least one attribute (or at leastone value of at least one attribute) associated with the at least onecomponent. For example, data structure 2900 may be accessed using atleast one value of at least one property (e.g., a bending stiffness of“2,” a torsional stiffness of “5,” at least one vibration characteristicof “7,” a shape of “rocker 20%,” some combination thereof, etc.)associated with a first component (e.g., that is associated with rows2910) to determine an attribute (e.g., attribute 2 of column 2950)associated with the first component.

In one embodiment, data structure 2900 may be used to determine at leastone attribute based on a user input (e.g., to a user interface oraccessed via a user interface). For example, where each element orregion (e.g., 2510, 2511, 2512, 2513, 2514, 2520, 2521, 2522, 2523,2524, etc.) of a user interface (e.g., 2500) is associated with at leastone respective property (e.g., of column 2930 such as a bendingstiffness, a torsional stiffness, a vibration characteristic, a shape,etc.) of an apparatus (or at least one portion thereof), data structure2900 may be indexed or accessed using at least one value of at least oneproperty (e.g., associated with the user input, associated with one ormore element or regions of the user input, determined based on the userinput, selected as part of the user input, etc.) of an apparatus (or atleast one portion thereof) to determine (e.g., in accordance with, or aspart of, step 2730 of FIG. 27) at least one attribute (or at least onevalue of at least one attribute) associated with at least one component(e.g., of the apparatus that is used to implement or provide the atleast one value of at least one property to the apparatus). As anotherexample, where a user input is associated with one or more of theproperty values (e.g., a bending stiffness of “2,” a torsional stiffnessof “5,” at least one vibration characteristic of “7,” a shape of “rocker20%,” some combination thereof, etc.) depicted in region 2510 of userinterface 2500 in FIG. 25, data structure 2900 may be indexed oraccessed using the one or more property values to determine at least oneattribute (e.g., attribute 2 of column 2950) based on the user input.

In one embodiment, data structure 2900 may be stored in a memory that isselectively coupled to or capable of being decoupled from at least onecomponent of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 200, 700,900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300,etc.). For example, data structure 2900 may be stored in a memory (e.g.,2320, 2340, 2345, etc.) where access to the memory is controlled orswitched using one or more signal transfer components (e.g., 2251, 2252,2261, 2263, 2272, 2273, etc.). In this manner, the ability to configurean apparatus (e.g., in accordance with one or more steps of process2700) may be reduced or limited (e.g., to authorized users of theapparatus) by using a switch or other mechanism to selectively couple amemory (e.g., including data structure 2900) to at least one othercomponent of the apparatus (e.g., processor 2310, another component ofapparatus 2300, etc.).

Each component (e.g., associated with rows 2910, associated with rows2920, etc.) may be or include at least one component (e.g., 210, 710 a,710 b, 1410, 1610, 1710, etc.) of an apparatus (e.g., 100 a, 100 b, 100c, 100 d, 200, 700, 900, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000,2100, 2200, 2300, etc.) in one embodiment. In one embodiment, a firstcomponent (e.g., associated with rows 2910) may be included in or partof the same portion of an apparatus as a second component (e.g.,associated with rows 2920). And in one embodiment, a first component(e.g., associated with rows 2910) may be included in or part of adifferent portion of an apparatus than a second component (e.g.,associated with rows 2920).

Although FIG. 29 shows data structure 2900 with a specific amount andtype of data, it should be appreciated that data structure 2900 mayinclude a different amount and/or type of data in other embodiments. Forexample, a different number and/or type of properties (e.g., in column2930) may be associated with at least one component (e.g., that isassociated with rows 2910, rows 2920, etc.) in other embodiments. Asanother example, data structure 2900 may include data associated with adifferent number of components and/or attributes in other embodiments.Although the data of data structure 2900 is depicted in FIG. 29 in oneor more specific forms, it should be appreciated that the data of datastructure 2900 may be expressed in other forms (e.g., as at least onenumber, as at least one range, as at least one percentage, as at leastone level, using at least one word, other forms, etc.) in otherembodiments.

Turning back to FIG. 27, step 2740 involves adjusting at least oneattribute (e.g., of or associated with the at least one component) toimplement the configuration of the apparatus (e.g., associated with theat least one user input accessed in step 2720). In one embodiment, step2740 may be performed by configuration component 2392 (e.g., alone or incombination with at least one other component of apparatus 2300). In oneembodiment, step 2740 may involve adjusting or readjusting at least oneattribute (e.g., at least one position, at least one pressure, at leastone temperature, at least one property of a magnetic field, at least onecurrent, at least one voltage, at least one duty cycle, at least oneother property of a pulse-width modulated signal, some combinationthereof, etc.) to, or based on, at least one value of the at least oneattribute determined in step 2730. And in one embodiment, the adjustmentmay be performed in step 2740 in accordance with one or more of thepreviously-described Figures.

Although FIG. 27 shows process 2700 with a specific number of steps, itshould be appreciated that process 2700 may include or involve adifferent number of steps in other embodiments. For example, step 2710may be optional in one or more embodiments. Although FIG. 27 showsprocess 2700 with a specific ordering of steps, it should be appreciatedthat process 2700 may include or involve a different ordering of stepsin other embodiments.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have beendescribed with reference to numerous specific details that may vary fromimplementation to implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicatorof what is, and is intended by the applicant to be, the invention is theset of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form inwhich such claims issue, including any subsequent correction thereto.Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage, orattribute that is not expressly recited in a claim should limit thescope of such claim in any way. Accordingly, the specification anddrawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivesense.

1. A vehicle comprising: at least one layer defining a cavity; and atleast one component disposed at least partially within said cavity, andwherein an adjustment of at least one attribute associated with said atleast one component is operable to implement a configuration of said atleast one layer.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each attribute ofsaid at least one attribute is selected from a group consisting of aposition, a pressure, a temperature, a property of a magnetic field, acurrent, a voltage, a duty cycle, and a property of a pulse-widthmodulated signal.
 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said configurationis associated with at least one property of said at least one layer. 4.The vehicle of claim 3, wherein each property of said at least oneproperty is selected from a group consisting of bending stiffness,bending rigidity, torsional stiffness, torsional rigidity, at least onevibration characteristic, and shape.
 5. The vehicle of claim 1 furthercomprising: at least one element operable to secure at least one objectto said at least one layer.
 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein eachobject of said at least one object is selected from a group consistingof a binding, a boot, and a truck.
 7. The vehicle of claim 1 furthercomprising: another layer coupled with said at least one layer, whereinsaid another layer comprises an image; and a metal edge coupled withsaid at least one layer.
 8. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: asecond component coupled with said at least one layer, wherein saidsecond component is operable to perform said adjustment.
 9. The vehicleof claim 8, wherein said second component is further operable to performsaid adjustment based on a control signal generated by a thirdcomponent.
 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said third component isdisposed remotely from said at least one layer.
 11. The vehicle of claim9 further comprising: at least one signal transfer component coupledwith said at least one layer, wherein said at least one signal transfercomponent is operable to electrically couple said second and thirdcomponents.
 12. A method comprising: accessing at least one user inputassociated with a configuration of a vehicle, wherein said vehiclecomprises at least one component; determining, based on said at leastone user input, at least one attribute associated with said at least onecomponent; and adjusting said at least one attribute to implement saidconfiguration of said vehicle.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein eachattribute of said at least one attribute is selected from a groupconsisting of a position, a pressure, a temperature, a property of amagnetic field, a current, a voltage, a duty cycle, and a property of apulse-width modulated signal.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein saidat least one user input is associated with at least one property of saidvehicle.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein each property of said atleast one property is selected from a group consisting of bendingstiffness, bending rigidity, torsional stiffness, torsional rigidity, atleast one vibration characteristic, and shape.
 16. The method of claim12, wherein said at least one user input is associated with a type ofsaid vehicle.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein said determining saidat least one attribute further comprises indexing a data structure basedon said at least one user input to determine said at least oneattribute.
 18. A system comprising a processor and a memory, whereinsaid memory includes instructions for implementing a method comprising:accessing at least one user input associated with a configuration of avehicle, wherein said vehicle comprises at least one component;determining, based on said at least one user input, at least oneattribute associated with said at least one component; and adjustingsaid at least one attribute to implement said configuration of saidvehicle.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein each attribute of said atleast one attribute is selected from a group consisting of a position, apressure, a temperature, a property of a magnetic field, a current, avoltage, a duty cycle, and a property of a pulse-width modulated signal.20. The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one user input isassociated with at least one property of said vehicle.
 21. The system ofclaim 20, wherein each property of said at least one property isselected from a group consisting of bending stiffness, bending rigidity,torsional stiffness, torsional rigidity, at least one vibrationcharacteristic, and shape.
 22. The system of claim 18, wherein said atleast one user input is associated with a type of said vehicle.
 23. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein said determining said at least one attributefurther comprises indexing a data structure based on said at least oneuser input to determine said at least one attribute.